State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. highlighted actions taken by SUNY students, faculty, and staff — including those at the Fredonia campus — to combat food insecurity, which continues to impact millions of New Yorkers, over the coming Thanksgiving holiday break.

At the direction of Gov. Kathy Hochul, members of the SUNY Empire State Service Corps (ESSC) have been assisting New Yorkers in filling out Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications, and the Governor announced additional Empire State Service Corps members to assist at food banks. SUNY Service Corps participants also undertook a Day of Hunger Action on Friday, Nov. 7. In addition, Chancellor King celebrated plans by SUNY students, faculty, and staff to give back to fellow New Yorkers over the Thanksgiving holiday break by volunteering at local food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens, and by donating food to help those impacted by food insecurity. 

“SUNY students, faculty, staff, and campus communities have been stepping up across the state to connect New Yorkers to essential food resources,” SUNY Chancellor King said. “At Governor Hochul’s direction, SUNY Empire State Service Corps members have been leaders at supporting New Yorkers in need, and our campus food pantries have received support to be a part of the solution to this crisis. I am proud of our actions on- and off-campus to combat food insecurity, and I especially applaud our dedicated students who continue to support these efforts whole-heartedly.” 

SUNY students, under the direction of Hochul, have been at the forefront of serving fellow New Yorkers throughout the food insecurity crisis. Hochul provided funds for additional SUNY Empire State Service Corps students to support SNAP applications and called on the entire Service Corps to undertake a Day of Hunger Action on Friday, November 7. Governor Hochul also announced $550,000 in emergency assistance for SUNY community college food pantries and related efforts to help campuses address the ongoing food insecurity crisis.  

To build on those efforts and support New Yorkers who continue to experience food insecurity, Chancellor King is highlighting upcoming actions that SUNY students, faculty, and staff are undertaking around the Thanksgiving holiday. SUNY campus efforts include SUNY Fredonia’s Social Work Club holding a food drive, with donations being delivered to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northern Chautauqua.  

Chancellor King also highlighted efforts taking place at SUNY campuses to address homelessness and ensure students have basic needs met. In September, Chancellor King announced a first-of-its-kind event, the SUNY Basic Needs Summit, to support efforts at improving access to essential resources including housing, food, transportation, and childcare. Since 2023, every SUNY campus has been directed to appoint a homeless liaison, whose job is to ensure that students experiencing homelessness receive the academic, financial, and wraparound support they need to succeed and thrive. SUNY has supported a learning network for these campus liaisons to provide ongoing training.