Peekskill, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced today that his 2021 law requiring supermarkets to make excess, unsold food available to organizations involved with helping residents with food insecurity, like food pantries, has led to the distribution of a record 110 million pounds to the state’s 10 regional food banks.

The original law has been amended twice since it was originally enacted to expand the food donation and distribution program and also to extend the period of time its provisions are in effect, now through 2029. The amendment enacted by Governor Hochul in 2025 also increased the number of entities participating in the food distribution program, thus further boosting the amount of food available to those New Yorkers in need. 

“So many of our neighbors are still facing food insecurity, which is why we cannot let up our fight against hunger in our communities,” said Harckham. “The success of the food donation law in stocking food pantries statewide, while continuing to raise awareness of how neighbors can help each other, is truly remarkable. As always, I am thankful to all those who have donated food, to the many volunteers who are fighting hunger in New York, and to Governor Hochul for her support of this initiative.”

Harckham’s announcement was made in recognition that September is Hunger Action Month.

New York State’s Department of Conservation (NYS DEC) has provided $10.8 million in support through the Environmental Protection Fund to help Feeding New York State and the state association of 10 regional food banks to dramatically increase donations. The funds were used by Feeding NYS to deploy staff to grocery stores, restaurants, colleges, and other food industry facilities to increase participation in the program and encourage food donations. The fund also supported several equipment purchases for the 10 regional food banks to increase food pickup capabilities at food pantries, meal centers and other partnering agencies.

The partnership between New York State and Feeding NYS is a nation-leading model for food diversion programs. The implementation of Harckham’s law and investments by New York to put the program into action have been tremendously effective. 

Today, Feeding NYS reports receiving between 2.4 million and 2.8 million pounds of food donations each month. This is a significant increase from 50-60,000 pounds per month when the program launched in October 2021. The program reached its one-million-pound food donation milestone in August 2022.

News investigations have highlighted how food production and food waste are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Each step of food production, from growing, harvesting, processing and packaging to transportation and storage, releases harmful gases such as carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. 

On average, Americans waste about 35-40% of the food that is produced nationwide. This results in food production being to blame for almost 25-33% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide—and when that food is wasted, the emissions that brought it forth then are doubly wasted. Food that is often perfectly safe to consume unfortunately ends up being thrown out, where it sits in landfills to decompose and release even more methane. 

Cynthia Knox, chief executive officer of Caring for the Hungry and Homeless in Peekskill (CHHOP), said, “Senator Harckham’s timely work to ensure that people throughout New York have adequate food, while lessening the amount of food headed to our landfills, is emblematic of the leadership we need today. Food insecurity continues to plague our communities. With over 27,000 residents just in Westchester County now at risk of losing their SNAP benefits, this tremendous support from the state for our local food banks continues to make a big difference.”

Trina Ward Fontaine, executive director of The Pantry, said, “Senator Harckham’s law, which resulted in 100 million pounds of food being delivered to food pantries statewide, is greatly helpful to organizations like ours. These donations help us feed over 500 families each week on average. Meanwhile, we’re seeing food insecurity continue to grow in our community. Additionally, food donations help us stretch our financial budget, so we can make sure our neighbors in need receive nutritionally dense food in greater quantities.”

Marisa O’Leary, director at Putnam Community Action Partnership, said, “For New York to reach 110 million pounds of food redirected to families in need of support is a testament to what we can accomplish when leadership meets community action. Here in Putnam County, we see every day how crucial rescued food is for stabilizing households and ensuring that no neighbor goes hungry. This Hunger Action Month milestone highlights the immense power of the New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law. We are deeply grateful to Senator Pete Harckham for authoring this essential legislation and to Governor Kathy Hochul for her commitment to feeding our communities while keeping organic waste out of our landfills.”