Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara today convened the first in a series of Schenectady County Food Access Roundtables, bringing together food pantries, meal programs, food assistance providers, and community organizations from across the county to discuss challenges, share resources, and identify opportunities to improve access to food for local residents.

The roundtable marked the beginning of an ongoing countywide effort focused on strengthening food access, improving communication among providers, and ensuring residents can more easily connect with available resources. Participants discussed increasing demand for services, barriers facing families seeking assistance, challenges confronting providers, and opportunities for future collaboration.

The initiative builds on Assemblyman Santabarbara’s longstanding efforts to support food security initiatives both locally and at the State Capitol. As a founding member of the Schenectady County Food Council, Santabarbara has worked alongside community organizations, food providers, and local stakeholders to address hunger and improve access to nutritious food. He has also volunteered with local food pantries and food distribution programs and has organized and participated in numerous events focused on addressing food insecurity.

At the state level, Assemblyman Santabarbara has supported investments in programs such as Nourish New York, the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), Double Up Food Bucks, and other initiatives aimed at helping families access healthy food while supporting local food providers and agricultural producers.

“As families continue to face rising costs and many food assistance providers are experiencing increased demand, it is more important than ever that we work together to ensure residents can access the help they need.

I organized this initial roundtable discussion to bring together food pantries, meal programs, and community organizations from throughout Schenectady County to share ideas, discuss challenges, and explore opportunities to better connect people with available resources. This meeting is intended to be the first in a series of ongoing conversations focused on strengthening food access across our county.

Just as importantly, this is designed to be an open and growing effort. We know there are additional organizations doing important work in our communities, and we hope to continue expanding participation as we build a more complete picture of food assistance services throughout Schenectady County.

By bringing more voices to the table, sharing information, and building stronger partnerships, we can achieve better outcomes for the individuals and families who rely on these services. Today’s discussion was an important first step, and I look forward to continuing the conversation and building on the progress made here today,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara.

Representatives from food pantries, meal programs, food assistance providers, and community organizations from across Schenectady County participated in the discussion, sharing perspectives on local needs, emerging challenges, and opportunities to strengthen food access throughout the county. The roundtable provided an opportunity to build relationships, exchange ideas, and identify areas for future collaboration.

Santabarbara said future roundtables will continue to bring together food assistance providers, community organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and support local efforts to address hunger throughout Schenectady County.