(NY1) New York officials are being urged by the Met Council on Jewish Poverty this week to allocate at least 20% of the food in a program meant to support food pantries in the state as kosher and halal food.
The state has sought to boost food pantries and access to nutritious meals through the Nourish New York program as need has sharply increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the Met Council, in a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, called for more support for people who have religious dietary needs and observances.
The group operates the largest food bank and pantry network in the country.
