Governor David Paterson is adding a one-time, million-dollar emergency increase in funding for regional food banks across New York.
That's in addition to a million dollars in emergency funding for food banks the governor authorized last fall.
Paterson says the money comes from a discretionary fund that the governor can spend without authorization from the Legislature. Officials say there was a 35 percent increase in the number of people applying for food aid last year.
The emergency funding for food banks announced Friday is in addition to the $30.9 million for food banks, soup kitchens, food pantries, and emergency shelters the governor proposed in his budget for next year.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
