Pantries, Albany, Key Bank Urge Food Donations

Responding to an increase in the number of children and single adults who either repeatedly missed meals or cannot afford nutritious meals, a coalition of Capital Region food pantries teamed up with the city of Albany and KeyBank on Friday to urge people to donate food during a two-week food drive. Many children rely on schools to provide breakfast and lunch, meaning that donations are especially important in the summer when school is out, said Natasha Pernicka, executive director of The Food Pantries for the Capital District, a coalition of 56 local food pantries. A January change in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program rules in New York gives unemployed, single adults three months to find a job before ending their SNAP benefits, and Pernicka said this has resulted in an increase in single adults accessing food from the pantries.