Read these two letters we received calling for local action on feeding our families in Onondaga County:
Onondaga County is sitting on a $100 million surplus while families across Syracuse and the county struggle to put food on the table after deep cuts to SNAP (food stamp) benefits. The County Legislature should immediately pass an emergency resolution to use the surplus to feed these residents.
County leaders have said this is a federal issue—but hunger is a local problem. The county has chosen to bank its massive surplus rather than use it for urgent needs. This is a moral failure when our neighbors are skipping meals.
Local food pantries are already overwhelmed. Here is a list of food pantries to help residents facing the SNAP freeze, but charity can’t replace leadership. Using even a small part of the surplus to supplement SNAP would be a smart investment in public health and dignity.
I urge residents, nonprofits, civic groups, and clergy to contact their county legislators and the County Executive at countyexecutive@ongov.net. Contact information for all legislators is here: ongov.net/legislature/members.html.
If your county legislator refuses to act, remember—you can vote for change this Tuesday. No one in Onondaga County should go hungry while our government hoards a surplus of your tax dollars.
Sunny Aslam
I’m reaching out today about something incredibly important that’s affecting so many of our neighbors in Onondaga County: making sure everyone has enough to eat. With the recent cuts to SNAP benefits and other governmental program shutdowns, things are getting really tough for families trying to put food on the table.
What’s really frustrating is that our county is currently sitting on a massive $100 million surplus. It just feels wrong that we have these funds available while people in our community are struggling with hunger.
From my perspective as someone running a food pantry, I see firsthand how dire the situation is. We’re doing our absolute best to serve everyone who comes through our doors, no matter where they live. But we’re also facing our own challenges. For instance, some of the official “emergency food” lists out there aren’t always accurate or comprehensive, and many places listed only offer food once a month, which simply isn’t enough when hunger is a daily issue. We really need a reliable, up-to-date local list and better support for all pantries.
While some county leaders might say this is a federal problem, when folks right here in our community are going hungry, it absolutely becomes a local problem too. It’s a moral failure to hoard such a large surplus when our community is in need, and it means our neighbors are skipping meals.
That’s why I truly believe our County Legislature needs to step up immediately and pass an emergency resolution.
Ms Jacqueline Lasonde