Sen. Schumer, faith leaders, and Foodlink warn of SNAP benefit cuts
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Senator Chuck Schumer was joined by local faith leaders and Foodlink officials in Rochester on Tuesday to criticize the $300 billion federal cuts to SNAP benefits.
The proposed cuts, which are part of President Donald Trump's federal spending plan, are estimated to affect 150,000 people in the Finger Lakes region.
Leaders say it would mark the largest reduction in the anti-hunger program's history.
'Senate Democrats are totally united in stopping these cuts to SNAP. We demand Republicans go back to the drawing board. If only four Republican senators say they will not do the SNAP cuts in the Senate bill and join with us, they could stop. That's what we need to happen,' said Sen. Schumer.
Foodlink supports more than 350 community food pantries across the Finger Lakes region. CEO Julia Tedesco says those pantries are seeing more traffic than ever before, and the proposed cuts would be even more devastating for those who use them.'The main message here today is that no food bank in the nation, none of the 200 regional food banks in the nation, can make up for a decrease of this magnitude. For every one meal the emergency food network distributes here in the Finger Lakes, but in any zip code in the country, SNAP makes up nine times that amount for families,' said Tedesco.
Doreen Young, a working mother of six children and SNAP recipient, shared her concerns Tuesday. 'We all know that prices in the grocery store are high. Inflation made it harder and harder to make ends meet. We try to stretch our benefits as far as they can go. If people are struggling now, can you imagine what happens if this bill is passed?' said Young.
Leaders say the SNAP program is a lifeline for nearly three million New Yorkers. Under the Republican proposal, the average family would be reduced to just five dollars for food per day per person.
'We're here today. Foodlink is here today. We're distributing food today. The agencies we're distributing food for are here today, and we will continue to show up tomorrow,' said Tedesco, 'There may come a time when the lines are just too long. But we're going to keep showing up.'
In the meantime, Foodlink is calling on the community for continued support and donations. You can find more information, along with the nonprofit's various resources, on their website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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