November 17, 2025 — Across the nation, Americans are facing rising costs of living, with many struggling to access food. According to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York (NENY), one in eight American families are currently facing some form of food insecurity or hunger. For children, that number is one in five, or 20 percent.
Those depressing statistics are why New York’s labor unions have partnered with the Food Bank to coordinate one of the largest Thanksgiving food distributions in its history.
“Everything the Regional Food Bank does is in partnership, and we simply cannot do what we do without the partnership we have in labor. I’ve often said that no one can organize like the labor community,” said Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer of the Regional Food Bank of NENY, Susan Litner, at a Nov. 13 press conference announcing the partnership. “And it’s in part due to that organization that the Regional Food Bank is going to carry out New York’s largest ever single day Thanksgiving Distribution on November 22 — distributing 350,000 meals to 75,000 New Yorkers in need.”
Unions have been leading efforts to ensure New Yorkers do not go hungry, especially during the holiday season, by giving time as volunteers at distribution sites, donating their own food, and raising money for the Regional Food Bank.
For PEF Vice President Bruce Giddings, working with the Food Bank is a priority to ensure that the people in his community, his fellow union siblings and all New Yorkers are not going hungry.
“Among our union’s thousands of titles are state workers who administer the SNAP benefits. We’ve seen firsthand an increase in the number of our neighbors in need, our workers, our communities and the cost of almost all the food is up while the wages don’t keep pace with inflation,” said Giddings. “When the social safety nets fray, this is what unions do. This is what labor does. We stand together, we step up and support each other as family.”
Giddings joined other union leaders like New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento and New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person to call on their members unionized to help the Regional Food Bank reach its goal of making sure no family goes hungry this Thanksgiving.
The pre-Thanksgiving Food Distribution Drive is taking place Saturday, November 22 beginning at 10am. There are various distribution centers in the Capital Region, the North Country and Hudson Valley. Visit this page to donate or register to volunteer with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The NYS AFL-CIO has also compiled a list of organizations working with various labor federations and councils to feed the hungry.