Senator Carlucci Announces Emergency Food Drive in Response to Trump’s New Food Stamp Rule

(Nanuet, NY) – Today, Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) announced he is holding an Emergency Food Drive to benefit People to People in Rockland County, after the Trump Administration made changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, which provides food to about 36 million people.

The new rule by the U.S. Department of Agriculture tightens the work requirements of the program, which will leave about 688,000 people without food stamps that they depend on by April 1, 2020. There are at least 107,000 residents in New York who stand to be impacted by the change to the law, according to Hunger Solutions New York.

The rule change targets able-bodied adults, 18-49 years of age who do not have dependents and work 20 hours per week. Currently, under the law these individuals are entitled to a maximum of three months of food stamps in a 3-year period. States have been able to waive the three-month limit in areas with high unemployment; however, under the change to the law, waivers to the work requirement will be harder for states to get and can only apply to a city or county with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher. This change will cut the about 2.9 million people at present who fall in this category by about 688,000 people, saving the government about $5.5 billion over five years.  

Senator David Carlucci said, “It is unimaginable and cruel that our President thought eliminating food for more than half a million people was the best way for our government to save money. People in Rockland County and communities across the county will feel the harmful effects of this change to the law, and it’s imperative we do everything we can to support our local food banks who will take on the burden. By holding a food drive at my office, it was one way I could take immediate action and help our food hub, People to People here in Rockland.”

For the next month, Senator Carlucci’s office will be collecting canned goods at his New City office, which will be donated to People to People who serves as Rockland County’s food hub, servicing a food pantry for residents and providing free food to local pantries throughout the County. Their staff anticipates demand for food at their pantry and others will surge due to these recent changes.

Diane Serratore, People to People CEO said, "The last time there were cuts to SNAP, the number of Rocklanders needing food assistance from People to People increased significantly. We went from helping 500 households put food on their tables every month to 1,000 families every month back in 2009 and 2010. Right now, nearly 1,400 low income Rockland households count on People to People for emergency food - that's nearly 4,000 people. People to People is financially hard-pressed right now to meet the current need. I am incredibly concerned about how we're going to generate the additional funds we'll need to help struggling folks should SNAP funding get cut."

Joe Allen, People to People Board Chairman said, “The plan to cut SNAP, which was essentially defeated in Congress with bipartisan support during the budget process, came back as an edict in the form of a rule change for SNAP eligibility. It is a work requirement that will have severe impact on people without transportation, little or no job training, seasonal workers and people who live in poor rural areas where employment opportunities are limited. More than 100,000 people in New York are expected to be impacted. Where are all those people going to go to get food? Food pantries around the state should prepare for an onrush of new clients, as has been the case with every SNAP cut. Like all other pantries, People to People is facing financial challenges and it’s going to get considerably worse if these programs are implemented.”

Residents in Rockland County can help People to People by bringing non-expired canned goods to Senator Carlucci’s office at 20 S. Main St. in New City from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through January 1, 2020.