Food pantry leaders plead with Lawler to save SNAP, other programs to fight hunger

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CONGERS - Rockland leaders on the frontlines of tackling food insecurity said their already-strapped feeding programs face even greater threats from the One Big Beautiful Bill now wending its way through Congress.
Several leaders raised the alarm during a press conference at the offices of the nonprofit TOUCH, a member of the Rockland Community Against Hunger coalition, on Tuesday, July 1, calling on their congressional representative, Rep. Mike Lawler, to protect the programs.
"We run out of food consistently," said Nathan Mungin III, executive director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Multi-Purpose Center.
Anita Dreichler, coordinator of Rockland Community Against Hunger, warned that the impact of current and future cuts "is going to be immense."
The Senate passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Tuesday. It will now head back to the House for another vote.
Here's the double whammy Rockland agency leaders warned about:
The Trump administration has already cut funds to The Emergency Food Assistance Program, known as TEFAP, which benefits farmers by purchasing food from them and sending it to states to distribute to food banks and feeding programs.
Current versions of the bill now in congressional negotiations embed years-long changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP.
Cuts to TEFAP force the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York to buy more food at higher costs to meet its partners' needs, COO Nick Pisani said. The Regional Food Bank supplies 23 New York counties from Rockland to the Canadian border. Those costs hit local feeding programs in the amount provided and in quality too. Pisani noted that direct-from-farm purchases are high quality and nutritious.
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Julian Palmer, who leads TOUCH, noted that the spending bill passed the House by 215-214, with Lawler voting yes; he could be among those who could flip the script by changing his vote or demanding a better bill.
Ciro Riccardi, a spokesman for Lawler, said on July 1 that Lawler 'has been fighting for TEFAP and SNAP in the One Big Beautiful Bill, as the legislation is geared to encouraging states to correct bureaucratic inefficiencies."
"The Senate's bill extended the deadline for states to get their error rates under 6% and avoid incurring a percentage of the cost share," Riccardi notes, adding that New York has one of the highest error rates in the country and that overpayments nationwide are wasting $10 billion a year.
"Rep. Lawler actively addressed concerns to the Agriculture committee, successfully advocating for the removal of the quality control zero-tolerance section from the Senate bill," Riccardi said. "The office has also sent a letter to the USDA highlighting issues with potential TEFAP cuts to ensure these vital programs remain protected for Hudson Valley families.'
Nyack Center executive director Kim Cross said Lawler can cut deals, like what was done in the Senate, to protect programs that help the children served by the community center. Nyack Center offers weekend food packages through a program with People to People called "In the Bag." Soup Angels, a food kitchen, also helps Nyack Center families all year round.
"There are opportunities to mitigate the choices that can be made," Cross said.
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Revised rules for SNAP eligibility could throw 300,000 New York households off monthly food payments, groups warn. About 53,000 Rockland residents currently rely on SNAP.
Mungin said the MLK Center's food distributions are slated for the early evening because many of the 300 families who turn out are working during the day.
"It's notable people aren't looking for a handout," he said. "They're looking for a way to make their budgets."
Tracie Pucci volunteers at People to People, the county's largest food pantry. She also is provided supplemental food from the pantry, she said, but only when she needs it.
For People to People, the loss of TEFAP means the loss of 250 tons of USDA goods that get to the Nanuet-based feeding program via the Regional Food Bank, board chairman emeritus Joe Allen said. The cost to replace that fresh food: around $1 million.
Cuts to SNAP will send more people to the pantry, Allen said, as the Great Recession, Hurricane Sandy, COVID and government cuts have in the past.
Pucci agreed that many, including those like her who receive SNAP, still need help from People to People and other feeding programs.
The income cutoff for such support is annual gross earnings of $40,560 for a family of four or under — double for people who are disabled.
Pucci asked Lawler to put his family in her shoes. "I'd like to ask Mr. Lawler, what is my family to do?" she asked." I'm begging you go vote no."
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Mike Lawler called to act as food pantries condemn Big Beautiful Bill