Melody Butler

03/02/2026

In January, Governor Hochul released her FY2027 Executive Budget. We appreciate that this budget made significant investments to state nutrition programs including proposed funding for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) at $72.8M and Nourish New York at $55M.

Food insecurity impacts almost 3 million New Yorkers and more specifically, over 300,000 Long Islanders. We stand with Feeding New York State in calling for a final version of the budget which includes:

$75 Million for Nourish New York Program (NNY)
$75 Million for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP)


These two critical hunger relief programs equip Long Island Cares and food banks across the state with the food and operational support necessary to feed New Yorkers.

Please take a moment to join this petition here which sends a customizable message directly to Governor Hochul and your representatives in the New York State Legislature. Our goal is to have 1,500 Long Islanders sign on in support. Please join us in this worthy advocacy campaign.

https://feedingnys.quorum.us/campaign/150722/?utm_campaign=HPNAP+NNY+Petition&fbclid=IwdGRjcAQS4ZljbGNrBBLhlGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHqeH6hTa91WhaGJWfowkfNnPZsc6jQO_OUE6k8PnmpOXSEw2K5aqypt-kGLr_aem_4mCR58CGmhFaq1wtLxCxJA

Tell State Government to Fund Hunger Relief Programs Now

02/03/2026

The doctored photo was the latest example of a history of racialized propaganda that has been weaponized against Black people, especially in eras in which they are challenging the government.

“It goes back to the images of slavery, but also of Jim Crow abuse by law enforcement, and that abuse with impunity to send a message to the Black community as a whole that we are going to not only assault but humiliate Black people who join in protest effort across the country,” said Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, a law professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.

President Trump and the White House regularly circulate imagery that has been manipulated by A.I. But the photo of Nekima Levy Armstrong was different.

10/31/2025

Jesus didn’t ask whether the hungry deserved bread. He said: give it to them.

10/30/2025