Officials at the 2026 State of Hunger summit held by Regional Food Bank in Troy had just one message: food insecurity, especially among children, is on the rise. The vast territory Regional Food Bank serves from Rockland County all the way up to the Canadian border is home to 2.9 million New Yorkers. The food bank estimates more than 350,000 people are food insecure within that area — a 23% increase from 2019. Regional Food Bank CEO Tom Nardacci said it’s going to take more local-level coordination to get food to hungry New Yorkers. The meal gap is continuing to grow while Regional Food Bank and other organizations are investing in ways to get food to those in need.