Long Island, NY - November 21, 2014 - Paule T. Pachter, Chief Executive Officer of Long Island Cares, Inc. - The Harry Chapin Food Bank has been elected Chair of the Board of Directors of the Food Bank Association of New York State. The Food Bank Association of New York State is a not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to helping end hunger in New York State. The Association represents the 8 regional food banks in New York State that combined distribute more than 184 million pounds of food annually to support over 2.3 million New Yorkers in need. The Association serves as a statewide resource for the 8 regional food banks and seeks additional food and funding, builds greater public awareness of the problem of hunger, and fosters stronger partnerships between the food banks, government, and the private sector. The Association advocates for the food banks and the hungry before state and federal governments, industry and trade associations, farmers, and the general public.
In addition to Long Island Cares, Inc., the Food Bank Association of New York State includes the Food Bank for New York City, Food Bank for Westchester in Elmsford, Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York in Albany, Food Bank for the Southern Tier in Elmira, Food Bank of Central New York in Syracuse, Foodlink in Rochester, and the Food Bank of Western New York in Buffalo.
"I'm very proud to have been elected Chair of the Food Bank Association of New York State," said Pachter. "The eight regional food banks work very closely together to insure that New Yorkers impacted by hunger receive the support they need and actively work with state government to provide a unified response to the problem of hunger in our communities." Pachter will work closely with Sharon M. Smith, Executive Director of the Food Bank Association of NYS to expand advocacy efforts, increase educational opportunities, and diversify the membership within the Association.
