Advocacy

A Stronger organization with a bolder voice

Advocacy is critical to building a more equitable food system and reducing food insecurity in our region. 

At Foodlink, we recognize that structural forces, such as economic inequality and racism, are embedded in our current food system, and these forces determine who gets a seat at the table, and who experiences the most food insecurity. While we will continue to advocate for food-related issues and legislation that affect our food-insecure neighbors, we also are  committed to supporting policies that impact root causes of hunger in our communities. 

Current Initiatives

POLICY PRIORITIES

Learn more about some of the issues and policies that Foodlink has been vocal about in recent months, and lend your support!

Healthy School Meals For All campaign

Foodlink is a contributing organization in the Healthy School Meals For All Coalition, which is urging elected leaders in New York State to adopt funding for a universal school meals policy through the next state budget.
State

ROC Food Policy Council

Foodlink is proud to join Common Ground Health, the City of Rochester and local residents on the Rochester Food Policy Council. This initiative helps focus community efforts toward policies that support a more equitable food system.
LOCAL

Petition: Tell Congress to fully fund WIC in 2024!

Additional (and necessary) funding for the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program was not included in the latest short-term spending bill, so we are calling on Congress to take action before thousands of families miss out on critical benefits.
Federal

Advocacy Agenda

Foodlink’s Advocacy Working Group established the organization’s first Advocacy Agenda in 2020.  

This document was drafted in collaboration with our member agencies, our staff, and through focus groups with the food-insecure people whom we serve.

Foodlink’s Advocacy Agenda comprises three focus areas: (1) Ensure no one goes hungry; (2) Improve access to healthy food in schools, healthcare settings, and low-income communities; and (3) Eliminate the root causes of hunger. 

In 2019, Foodlink organized six focus groups at local food pantries or community meal programs, and interviewed 54 clients during our process of establishing our inaugural Advocacy Agenda in 2019-20. The following quotes are taken either from our series of 2019 interviews, or from follow-up calls to participants in 2020. 

Need Help with Food Assistance?

Foodlink recently received a grant through Feeding America to provide SNAP eligibility outreach throughout our service area. Please reach out to us at 585-413-5091 or SNAP@foodlinkny.org if you are in need of assistance.

The public can also visit HungerSolutionsNY.org to connect with one of our region’s Nutrition Outreach & Education Program (NOEP) Coordinators. 

Know your elected officials

Do you know who represents you in public office? Visit USAGov.com to search for your elected officials at the local and state level. Below is the contact information for the four Members of Congress and two Senators that represent Foodlink’s 10-county service area. 

Members of congress

Rep. Nick Langworthy

R, 23rd District
Washington, D.C. office
(202) 225-3161

Foodlink service area: Allegany County

Rep. Claudia Tenney

R, 24th District
Victor office:
(585) 869-2060

Foodlink service area: The counties of Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming & Yates, and parts of Orelans County. 

Rep. Joe Morelle

D, 25th District
Rochester office:
(585) 232-4850

Foodlink service area: Monroe County, parts of Orleans County 

Senators

Sen. Charles Schumer 

Rochester office:
(585) 263-5866

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

Rochester office: 
 (585) 263-6250

Useful Links

Useful Links

The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) is one of the leading nonprofit anti-hunger advocacy orginization’s in the nation.

Feeding America‘s government relations team offers resources related to federal nutrition programs and issues that are critical to helping us ensure families have adequate access to healthy food.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is a nonpartisan research and policy institute that pursues federal and state policies designed to reduce poverty and inequality.

Hunger Solutions New York advocates for policies and legislation to improve nutrition assistance programs at local, state, and federal levels — and develops public policy recommendations to reduce hunger in New York State.