Bethpage, NY - November 9, 2016 - Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO, Island Harvest Food Bank was recently appointed to the New York State Council on Hunger and Food Policy (CHFP) by Governor Andrew Cuomo at the recommendation of New York State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan. Governor Cuomo established the CHFP in 2016 to focus on anti-hunger issues in New York and advise the state on policies and programs to improve access to food, including healthy, locally-grown produce. The CHFP brings together experts from across the state representing state and municipal agencies, academia, nonprofits and the agriculture industry.
A resident of East Meadow, NY, Shubin Dresner is a leading advocate for people facing hunger and food insecurity on Long Island and in New York State. She is often called on as an expert source by the media, elected officials, and others on the issue of hunger and food insecurity, and poverty-related issues. Shubin Dresner is a member of the Energeia Partnership (also known as the Academy for Regional Stewardship at Molloy College), the Suffolk County Food Policy Council, and the Long Island Business Food Policy Council. In 2013 Governor Cuomo appointed her to serve on the Farmingdale State College Council. Her work has raised awareness of the insidious, yet often unrecognized problem of chronic hunger on Long Island along with other important societal issues.
“I'm honored to be named to the New York State Council on Hunger and Food Policy, and I thank Governor Cuomo and Senator Flanagan for their confidence in me,” said Shubin Dresner. “I look forward to working with the Council and other organizations in coming up with innovative ways in which to help solve the chronic problem of food insecurity in New York.”
Senator Flanagan noted, “Having worked closely with Randi, I know how instrumental she has been in helping the lives of countless families. She has been a consistent leader in the fight against hunger and Governor Cuomo’s appointment will enable her to use her abilities to assist even more of those who are in need. Randi’s experience and passion will benefit our entire state and I look forward to continuing to work with her to help all New Yorkers.”
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball said, “Hunger is a devastating and widespread problem across New York State and it is critical that we continue to aggressively address this problem. Through this Council, Governor Cuomo has assembled a dynamic group of people that each provide valuable experience in fighting hunger. I am thrilled to be leading this dedicated team and I look forward to continuing the important work of ensuring all New Yorkers have access to the food they need to lead healthy, full lives.”
The CHFP is chartered with reinforcing collaboration between government, nonprofits, and business to address hunger and food insecurity; evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies and programs that expand access to healthy, affordable food, and recommend state action to expand agricultural production and processing and to develop new outlets for local food in underserved communities. The CHFP is further tasked with identifying ways to help farmers donate food to vulnerable New Yorkers; ensure that all schoolchildren have access to free or affordable breakfasts and lunches while making them more healthy and locally-grown, and incorporate nutrition education into school curriculums. The CHFP will recommend actions to improve the availability of an adequate food supply and access to locally-grown, fresh and nutritious food to children via school meal programs, emergency food providers, such as local pantries and food banks.
Island Harvest Food Bank has been leading the state in it farm-to-food bank program, yielding more than 11 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables from Long Island’s farmers since its inception in 2015. The program is one of the largest farm-to-food-bank programs in New York State.
About Hunger on Long Island
Hunger is a state in which people do not get enough food to provide the nutrients for active and healthy lives. It can result from the recurrent lack of access to food. More than 316,000 Long Islanders face the risk of hunger every day, according to Island Harvest Food Bank and Feeding America, a national hunger-relief organization. Those facing hunger include adults (often working two jobs), seniors and veterans. Unable to make ends meet, they (and their children) are often forced to go without food. Approximately 70,000 individuals seek food assistance in Nassau and Suffolk counties each week through soup kitchens, food pantries and other feeding programs served by Island Harvest Food Bank.
About Island Harvest Food Bank
Island Harvest Food Bank is a leading hunger-relief organization that provides food and other resources to people in need. Always treating those it helps with dignity and respect, its goal is to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island through efficient food collection and distribution; enhanced hunger-awareness and nutrition-education programs; job training; and direct services targeted at children, senior citizens, veterans, and others at risk of food insecurity. As a result of Island Harvest Food Bank’s dynamic business model, more than 94 percent of expended resources go directly to programs and services that support over 316,000 Long Islanders facing hunger. Island Harvest Food Bank is a lead agency in the region’s emergency response preparedness for food and product distribution, and is a member of Feeding America®, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization. Island Harvest is a four-star-rated nonprofit by Charity Navigator, an independent charity watchdog organization. More information can be found at www.islandharvest.org.