New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 4 today celebrated the recent awarding of a $98,185 grant to Sycamore Collaborative in Schenectady to help address food insecurity impacting local residents. The funding, from DEC’s Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment grant program and announced by Governor Kathy Hochul last month, is part of $5 million awarded to food pantries, soup kitchens, and other programs statewide dedicated to assisting New Yorkers in need and reducing wasted food. 

DEC Region 4 Director Sean Mahar said, “As food insecurity is on the rise with skyrocketing food prices and uncertainty surrounding the social programs that feed communities across the nation, this Thanksgiving, New York is proud to be making investments in community-based food relief organizations that are trying to keep up with the demand and fight hunger. This funding for organizations like the Sycamore Collaborative will not only increase the amount of food available to vulnerable New Yorkers who need it the most, it is a central part of the state’s efforts to divert food waste from landfills and fight climate change.”   

Sycamore Collaborative is a not-for-profit that operates the largest food pantry in Schenectady County, distributing enough food last year to provide nearly one million meals. This year, the organization is seeing the number of households seeking assistance climb steadily month after month, stretching the pantry’s capacity and resources. The Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment grant program will help fund a box truck with a lift gate, a refrigerator, and a straddle stacker—essential tools that will enable Sycamore Collaborative to keep pace with the growing need and ensure food reaches community members who rely on their programs. 

Sycamore Collaborative Acting Executive Director/CEO Aldo Juárez-Romero said, “With the number of families seeking our help growing by 15 to 20 percent year over year for the past three years, this support arrives at a crucial moment. It will help us sustain our current level of service and ensure we can continue showing up for the neighbors who rely on us. We’re deeply grateful for the partnerships that make this work possible.” 

A total of 97 Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment grants, ranging from $1,200 to $100,000, will help organizations purchase emergency generators and equipment used for cooling and transporting donated food, and expand the quantity and type of food emergency food relief organizations can provide to New Yorkers in need. The Capital Region received a total of $291,939 in grants to three area food pantries, including Sycamore Collaborative. The grant program is administered by DEC as part of an ongoing commitment to properly manage wasted food, prevent food from needlessly being thrown away, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, feed hungry New Yorkers and engage with communities across the state. 

Capital Region

• Food Pantries for the Capital District, $100,000: support the lease of three box trucks to help increase organizational capacity for food distribution. This equipment will directly impact and improve the organization’s Food Express pick-up and delivery of food orders from the Regional Food Bank, and their food shuttle delivery program.
• Higher Horizons Development Corporation, $93,754: support the purchase of a van/box truck, blast freezer, and generator that will allow Higher Horizons Food Pantry to increase the amount of food it can offer.
• Sycamore Collaborative, $98,185: support the purchase of a box truck with a lift gate, refrigerator, and a straddle stacker to help increase the amount of food available for those in need through the organization’s food pantry. 

A full list of awardees is available on DEC’s website. 

The Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment grants are part of Governor Hochul’s more than $11 million to support emergency food relief for food insecure New Yorkers. The remaining $6 million supports a renewed partnership with Feeding New York State and the 10 regional food banks by funding critical staffing and essential operations at food banks and their local partners statewide. 

DEC also administers the State’s nation-leading Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law which helps reduce waste and climate-altering emissions caused by landfilling. Governor Hochul previously announced a record 63 million pounds of food collected from the state's largest food-related businesses to feed hungry New Yorkers. The milestone is a direct result of DEC funding to capture new food donations and help build stronger, healthier communities. Watch a video announcing the latest record food donation milestone held during Climate Week and Hunger Action Month in September 2025: https://youtu.be/xlt4A8CNOGE 

Additionally, each year, DEC partners with the Venison Donation Coalition and Feeding New York State through a cooperative relationship involving the New York State Department of Health, not-for-profit organizations like Feeding New York State's regional food banks, and deer processors. Hunters contribute nearly 40 tons of venison each year and, in 2024 alone, DEC issued more than $21,000 in hunter-donated funds to Feeding New York State and the Venison Donation Coalition. 

DEC’s efforts complement other ways New York State is leading on affordability, hunger prevention, and food diversion. The launch of free lunches for all children in New York schools is one of the latest examples, with others including: Nourish New York program; 30 Percent NYS Initiative for school meals; Farm-to-School program; FreshConnect Fresh2You initiative; Food Access Expansion Grant Program; Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs; and Urban Farms and Community Gardens Grants Programs, among other funding initiatives.