More CFC Funding

Step 1: Learn about CFC’s impact on healthy food access in NYC

Community Food Connection (CFC), formerly known as the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP), provides funding to more than 500 community kitchens and food pantries citywide. Managed by the Department of Social Services (DSS/HRA), CFC represents New York City’s primary baseline funding for direct community food assistance. CFC supplies nutritious and fresh food across all five boroughs, serving over 1 million New Yorkers annually.

Our city’s affordability crisis leaves many relying on community food programs as their last defense against hunger. Recent reports indicate that more than 1 in 7 NYC residents are food insecure, and 50% of families, or nearly 1.3 million households, lack sufficient resources to meet their need. Furthermore, the most recent True Cost of Living Report finds that 63% of households with children have inadequate income to consistently meet their basic needs.

The CFC program needs to be baselined into the FY2026 budget at $60 million dollars as the need continues to grow across NYC. The funding should be for frontline providers (organizations like WSCAH, other food pantries, soup kitchens, Meals on Wheels, etc.). Additionally, there is a need for a separate allocation within CFC for coalitions working to transform the system, such as the Roundtable.

Step 2: Find your representatives

The best way to make your voice heard on this issue is to write to City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams:

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams
City Hall
New York, NY 10007

[email protected]

You can also use our city council representative search tool to locate and contact your local representative:

Find

Step 3: Take action

Below is some proposed language. Feel free to customize it with your own thoughts on the issue. When complete click the copy button and paste it into your email program.

Subject: Support Our Communities: Baseline CFC Funding in NYC’s FY2026 Budget

Dear [Speaker Adams OR your local representative]

I am writing as a concerned New Yorker to urge you to prioritize funding for the Community Food Connection (CFC) program, formerly known as the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP), in the FY2026 budget. CFC provides critical funding to over 500 community kitchens and food pantries across the city, helping deliver nutritious food to New Yorkers in need. As food insecurity grows, the need for this program has never been greater.

Our city’s affordability crisis has left many families struggling to put food on the table. Recent reports show that more than 1 in 7 New Yorkers are food insecure, with 50% of families—nearly 1.3 million households—unable to consistently meet their basic needs. For households with children, the numbers are even more alarming: 63% do not have enough income to cover essential expenses, according to the most recent True Cost of Living report.

Programs like CFC are vital for frontline organizations, such as food pantries, soup kitchens, and Meals on Wheels, that provide a lifeline to our communities. It is essential that CFC is baselined into the FY2026 budget at $60 million, so these organizations can continue their crucial work uninterrupted.

Additionally, I am asking for a separate allocation within CFC to support coalitions working to transform the food assistance system, such as The Roundtable: Allies for Food Access. These coalitions are focused on creating long-term solutions that address the root causes of food insecurity in New York City.

I urge you to take action and ensure that CFC receives the necessary funding to keep fighting hunger in our communities. Thank you for your leadership and your attention to this critical issue.

Sincerely,

[Your Name] 
[Your Address] 
[Your Email] 
[Your Phone Number]