Local lawmakers: Prestigious national honor for Food Bank of the Southern Tier (UPDATED: Read and watch more)

Elmira, N.Y., June 1—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) today joined his Southern Tier Senate colleague, Senator Fred Akshar (R,C,IP-Binghamton), and area Assemblymen Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) and Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) to congratulate the Food Bank of the Southern Tier upon receiving Feeding America’s “2017 Food Bank of the Year Award.”

The Food Bank of the Southern Tier is the first-ever New York State food bank to receive the award from Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.  It is the highest designation a food bank can receive.

The official presentation of the award took place at a news conference this morning at the Food Bank of the Southern Tier warehouse facility in Elmira at which O’Mara, Akshar, Friend and Palmesano also presented a Legislative Resolution they sponsored paying tribute to the Food Bank’s designation.  In late May, the Senate and Assembly unanimously approved the resolution.

In a joint statement, O’Mara, Akshar, Friend and Palmesano said, “What a prestigious, well-earned and well-deserved testament to everyone at the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.  It is a tribute to their commitment, compassion and daily work to end hunger for families across the Southern Tier.”

The Legislative Resolution (J2197/K449) they sponsored reads, in part, “The Food Bank of the Year Award honors the most outstanding food bank in the Feeding America network for going above and beyond its core mission of providing for the hungry.  It also acknowledges the role the food bank plays in improving the community they serve through creative, efficient and successful programming, and is a strengthening force for the entire Feeding America network, as well as exemplifying the highest standard of operations.”

Food Bank of the Southern Tier President & CEO Natasha Thompson said, “Winning this award was only possible because the Food Bank is supported by our incredible community.  I’m humbled every day by the volunteers, agencies, donors and community partners who help us fulfill our mission. Being honored at the national level only reinforces our belief that the Southern Tier is very special.”  

Read more from the Food Bank of the Southern Tier HERE.

Read and watch more from WENY-TV, "Food Bank Of The Southern Tier Named 2017 Food Bank Of The Year"

See the attached article above from The Leader.

Feeding America distributes food and groceries to more than 46 million low-income people each year through a network of 200 food banks that serve 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across the country.

Feeding America first announced the Food Bank of the Year Award at its 2017 Hunger’s Hope Awards conference in late April in San Diego.  Feeding America said that the Food Bank of the Southern Tier was recognized “for or having strong and engaged teams in all areas of their organization.” and for “its innovative practice of engaging major donors in their strategic planning processes, their extensive work in studying the issue of agency capacity, and the effectiveness of their mobile pantry program.”

Feeding America CEO Diana Aviv said, “President and CEO Natasha Thompson has assembled a terrific staff that we consider best-in-class. Their programs as well as their efforts to increase the amount of food and groceries they provide to their community are exemplary.”

The Food Bank of the Southern Tier serves seven regional counties -- Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins – covering nearly 4,000 square miles.  In 2016 the organization distributed more than 11.5 million pounds of food and grocery items through approximately 160 partner agencies, including food pantries, meal programs, shelters, and after-school and senior programs.