The citywide food drive that Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano announced on Oct. 31 is continuing even after the Trump administration on Nov. 3 announced that it would comply with a judge’s order and release contingency SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) funds, a spokesperson in Spano’s office told Westfair’s Westchester County Business Journal.
The Trump administration said that it would be sending out partial SNAP payments beginning on Wednesday to comply with a court order that contingency funds be distributed. SNAP benefits are received by 2,962,913 people in New York state and 79,000 in Westchester with approximately 10,270 in Yonkers. About 42 million Americans receive SNAP benefits. The administration said that the contingency fund has only about $4.5 billion left in it, which is not enough for full SNAP payments in November.
Spano stood alongside public officials, city department heads, and representatives of community organizations at Yonkers City Hall to announce the food drive. He urged Yonkers residents to take action by donating nonperishable food items to the nonprofit Feeding Westchester. To support this effort, donation boxes will be placed in various place in Yonkers for the collection.
“In the face of these benefit changes, we must come together as a community,” Spano said. “Feeding Westchester is a lifeline for thousands of families, and now more than ever, they need our help to meet the growing demand. Whether you’re a resident, a business owner, or a community leader, you have the power to make a difference. Let’s show what Yonkers is made of.”
Spano called on officials in Washington resolve the SNAP funding issue.
“You can’t play chess with peoples’ lives, knowing that their well-being is on the line,” Spano said. “Here in Yonkers, we see the ripple effects from delayed federal support to uncertainty for those who depend on vital services. Our residents expect leadership, not gridlock.”
Food donation bins were to be set up at: Yonkers City Hall, 40 South Broadway; Yonkers PAL, 127 North Broadway; Riverfront Library, 1 Larkin Center; Grinton I. Will Library, 1500 Central Park Ave., Crestwood Library, 16 Thompson St.
Tami Wilson, CEO of Feeding Westchester, said, “I can’t imagine the stress and anxiety our neighbors are feeling right now with the loss of federal paychecks and the uncertainty of SNAP benefits not being funded in just a few days. To worry about where your next meal will come from, especially as we approach a holiday centered on food, gratitude, love, and family is something no one should ever have to face.”
Spano invited local organizations, businesses, and faith communities to join the citywide initiative with their own collection spots by contacting Dr. Dwanita Crosby at his office.
