MCC Daily Tribune

SUNY Chancellor King Joins Empire State Service Corps Members to Combat Food Insecurity

Chancellor King and Capital Region Service Corps Members Prepare Meal Kits for Pantries, Soup Kitchens, and Shelters

Governor Hochul’s Empire State Service Corps Initiative Connects Students with Paid Community Service Opportunities

Albany, NY — On Thursday, State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. joined members of SUNY’s Empire State Service Corps from throughout the Capital Region at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York to prepare meal kits to support New Yorkers struggling with food insecurity. Students participating in SUNY’s Empire State Service Corps, New York State’s largest AmeriCorps program, dedicate at least 300 hours to engaging in paid community service and convene regularly to share and learn from each other’s experiences.

“Throughout the state, SUNY’s Empire State Service Corps members have repeatedly stepped up to support New Yorkers in need,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “I was honored to join our Service Corps members to help combat food insecurity and to be a part of this day of service. The leadership and dedication to service of our SUNY students make a positive difference in the lives of others, while preparing our students for a wide range of careers and for a future of civic engagement.”

SUNY Trustee Eunice A. Lewin and SUNY Trustee Luca O. Rallis, Co-Chairs of the Student Life Committee, said, “Through the Empire State Service Corps, championed by Governor Kathy Hochul, hundreds of SUNY students throughout New York State have given back to their local communities through their service work while still achieving academic excellence in the classroom. We thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to expanding the SUNY Empire State Service Corps so that more students can earn the opportunity to serve others, and so that more New Yorkers can be supported through this important work.”

Thomas Nardacci, CEO of the Regional Food Bank, said, “Too many New Yorkers across the state are facing food insecurity, a challenge that spans all ages and demographics. We partner with support organizations, as well as colleges, universities, and community colleges, to develop innovative solutions tailored to their unique populations. For college students, traditional students often have different needs than adult learners - many of whom attend classes in the evenings while balancing work, parenting, and financial responsibilities. We are grateful to Chancellor King for his leadership and support, as well as to the dedicated volunteers of the SUNY Empire State Service Corps, whose efforts are making a meaningful difference in communities across the state.”

Chancellor King, SUNY Empire State Service Corps students, and Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York volunteers assembled the meal kits, which will be distributed to partner agencies including pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. The meal kits will help support individuals and families throughout the Capital Region who have been impacted by food insecurity.

Crystal Barber, State University of New York at Albany Empire State Service Corps member, said, “Having volunteered at the Trinity Alliance Food Pantry and growing up in a single-parent household, I’ve seen firsthand how food insecurity affects people in our community. If it weren’t for New York’s food pantries, I wouldn’t be where I am today. When someone doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from, it's hard to focus at work and school, much less getting through the day. Now with more families relying on food banks than in years prior, the community must step up. Volunteering is a simple way to ensure that people aren’t going hungry.”

The Empire State Service Corps has been annually funded at $2.75 million since the FY25 Enacted State Budget. In her 2026 State of the State Agenda, Governor Hochul proposed doubling the size of the Empire State Service Corps, including new programs to meet New York State’s most pressing needs — offering new capacity to assist in areas such as disaster recovery. In 2025, applications far exceeded the number of available spots for the second year in a row, with applications outpacing the number of campus spots 4:1.

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Higher Education Committee said, "The Empire State Service Corps is a shining example of what happens when we invest in the partnership between our students, faculty members, administrators, businesses, and communities. These young people are stepping up and gaining real-world experience that will stay with them for a lifetime. As Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, I am proud to support a program that connects SUNY students with meaningful, paid service opportunities while addressing critical needs like food insecurity."

State Senator Jim Tedisco said, "I want to thank SUNY Chancellor King and the Empire State Service Corp for their 'Day of Service' to help prepare meal kits for the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and ensure Capital Region residents and families facing food insecurity have this vital assistance from our state. This is truly an example of neighbors helping neighbors.”

State Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman, Chair of the Higher Education Committee said, "As Chair of the Committee on Higher Education, I view the Empire State Service Corps not merely as a service initiative, but as a transformative paradigm for student engagement and economic stability. The data is unequivocal: with applications outpacing available spots four-to-one, our scholars have issued a clear mandate for the expansion of this program. By integrating compensated community service with academic pursuit, we are providing a vital catalyst for student success while directly addressing the moral imperative of food insecurity.”

State Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero said, “I’m proud to support SUNY’s Empire State Service Corps and the incredible students who are stepping up to serve communities across New York. Today’s Day of Service at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York shows what this program makes possible by bringing people together to address food insecurity and support neighbors in need. With Governor Hochul’s continued commitment, including her proposal to expand the program and meet pressing challenges like disaster recovery, we are investing in both the future of public service and the well-being of our communities. I’m grateful to everyone involved for their dedication to building a stronger, more compassionate New York.”

State Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara said, “Food insecurity remains a real challenge for many families in the Capital Region, and programs like the Empire State Service Corps help address that need in a practical way. By giving students the opportunity to participate in meaningful service, this initiative strengthens community support systems while also helping young people build a lasting commitment to civic engagement. Efforts like preparing meal kits for local pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens show how service and education can work together to make a positive impact.”

State Assemblymember Carrie Woerner said, “I am grateful for SUNY Empire State Service Corps’ Day of Service and its partnership with the Northeast Regional Food Bank. Food insecurity in our community has grown significantly with major shortages at food pantries and soup kitchens. I’m pleased that this increased need is being recognized and addressed by more volunteers and additional program funding. We are fortunate to have SUNY Empire State students dedicate their time to such valued community service initiatives.”

Students participating in the Empire State Service Corps dedicate at least 300 hours to engaging in paid community service and convene regularly to share and learn from each other’s experiences. As a recognized AmeriCorps program, participating students who complete 300 service hours also receive an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of up to $1,400 for their service.

The first cohort of the Empire State Service Corps and Empire State Summer Service Corps members logged a combined 102,343 service hours during the 2024-25 program, serving 74,638 New Yorkers. Empire State Summer Service Corps members also supported 200 new SNAP application submissions during the Summer 2025 session.

Applications for the 2026-27 Empire State Service Corps program are now open. SUNY undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply on the SUNY website between now and April 17 for one of 1,000 paid civic and service internships for the 2026-27 academic year included in Governor Hochul’s FY2027 Executive Budget.

Focus areas Empire State Service Corps members traditionally work in include:

Civil Discourse and Civic Engagement:

Students will serve either on or off campus with organizations such as local nonprofits related to civic engagement and civil discourse, including nonpartisan voter outreach and voter registration.

Education:

K-12 Tutoring: Students will partner with local school districts for regular tutoring sessions with students in the community who need more academic support.
Early Childhood Education: Students will serve at a host site dedicated to early childhood education and/or development (for example, daycare or Head Start centers).
Student Success Coaching: Students will work with elementary, middle and high school students to support academic achievement and combat common challenges external to academics like addressing chronic absenteeism, access to socio-emotional learning, mentoring, and mental health support.

Economic Opportunity:

FAFSA Completion: Students will serve local communities, in visits to local high schools and through work on campus, to support students in completing the FAFSA or other financial aid forms

Healthy Futures:

Food Insecurity/SNAP & Basic Needs: Students will serve on or off campus supporting students and others with SNAP outreach as well as basic needs support (which could include shifts at a campus food pantry) or with other food insecurity-aligned work.
Independent Living: Students will promote independence and quality of life for aging populations and individuals with alternative abilities.
Justice-Impacted Support: Students will support reentry and stability by connecting justice-impacted individuals to resources, opportunities, and community networks.
Mental Health Support: Students will be trained to serve as a mental health educator, supporting peers or community members either on- or off-campus with building strong mental health practices and overall wellness initiatives. Promote well-being by expanding access to mental health resources, prevention efforts, and supportive services.

Environmental Stewardship:

Sustainability: Students will serve in campus roles and with local nonprofits and State agencies on sustainability work, such as recycling campaigns, tree planting, pollinator gardens, and sustainability outreach.
Climate Action: Advance long-term climate initiatives through research, education, and resilience-building that supports healthier communities (e.g. supporting local municipalities, climate-focused campus initiatives, climate outreach campaigns, etc.)

Veterans Affairs & Military Families Outreach:

Students will serve at host sites dedicated to supporting active military or veterans' affairs for individuals, families, or affiliated groups through outreach, resource connection, and responsive services.

The day of service is part of SUNY’s ongoing efforts to support New Yorkers in need and promote civics and service opportunities among SUNY students. In January, members of the Empire State Service Corps assembled literacy kits as part of a day of service to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In November 2025, Service Corps members were mobilized to support their communities during Governor Hochul’s Day of Hunger Action, and they provided additional assistance during the food insecurity crisis in November 2025.

About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum.

Veronica Chiesi Brown
Community Relations
03/27/2026