The Altamont Enterprise reports that 10 percent of people in Albany County is considered food insecure and one in seven children go to school hungry, according to the Albany County Executive Dan McCoy. A press release from his office said, “There are people in every community in Albany County that face food insecurity, from the Hilltowns to the suburbs to the cities." So the county recently announced $175,000 to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and its community partners of 40 food pantries and 16 soup kitchens in Albany County; and $75,000 to the United Way of the Greater Capital Region. In 2023, the Regional Food Bank provided 3.7 million meals to people in Albany County, but they say 1.4 million more meals are still needed. The new funding from Albany County will only provide an additional 400,000 meals, so at least another million are needed. McCoy said, “Demand in Albany County for help has gone up 30 percent since last year and we need to invest in programs that will make a difference.... Strong partnerships will help reduce the meal gap this year from 26 percent to 18 percent by providing 464,167 more meals. This is only the beginning.” Read more about this story in the Altamont Enterprise.