About Us
The Broome County Food Council (BCFC) is a collaborative network of community organizations, agencies, and stakeholders working together to build an equitable, sustainable, and accessible food system in Broome County. The Council operates through a partnership model convened and supported by the Food Banks of the Southern Tier, which provides backbone coordination and administrative support.
The history of the Council starts in 2013 when a Child Hunger Task Force was formed. This task force accomplished many objectives and goals. At the end of 2019, the founding members decided that they would like to form a Council to address food insecurity for the entire county for all people experiencing food insecurity. In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, the Council became an emergency food resource to provide food access and distribution across the County. In the Spring of 2021, the Council started to meet and formed a Steering Committee and sub-committees called “work groups”. Their goal was to begin the process of developing a food access plan for Broome County. At that time, the Council had members from over 40 agencies and organizations around the county, but did not have backbone support to help facilitate, network, and coordinate the Council's work going forward. In 2022, with support from funding partners, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier established the Food Council Manager position to provide backbone coordination and support of the Council's efforts.
At present, the Council has over 195 members, 70 agencies and organizations represented, a Steering Committee, and 5 Work Groups. In two years, the Council developed a Food Access Plan with five Strategic Initiatives. Their goal is to develop a Food Systems Plan by 2027.
To date, the Council's highlights include active involvement in the Healthy School Meals for All NY kids campaign and partnering with Binghamton University’s Food Justice group to compile a story map using GIS (Geographic Information Systems). This technology is being used across the country to map services, demographics of people, and transportation, strictly to tell a story of food insecurity in communities.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5th, 2026, at 1:00 PM. If you are interested in attending or if you would like to learn more about the Council, please feel free to contact Theresa Krause: 607-796-6061 ext. 4032
The Council gratefully acknowledges the funding provided by the New York Health Foundation, along with the leadership and administrative support of the Food Banks of the Southern Tier. This support sustains the Food Council Manager position, housed within the Food Bank, which provides coordination and facilitation for the Council's work.
The history of the Council starts in 2013 when a Child Hunger Task Force was formed. This task force accomplished many objectives and goals. At the end of 2019, the founding members decided that they would like to form a Council to address food insecurity for the entire county for all people experiencing food insecurity. In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, the Council became an emergency food resource to provide food access and distribution across the County. In the Spring of 2021, the Council started to meet and formed a Steering Committee and sub-committees called “work groups”. Their goal was to begin the process of developing a food access plan for Broome County. At that time, the Council had members from over 40 agencies and organizations around the county, but did not have backbone support to help facilitate, network, and coordinate the Council's work going forward. In 2022, with support from funding partners, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier established the Food Council Manager position to provide backbone coordination and support of the Council's efforts.
At present, the Council has over 195 members, 70 agencies and organizations represented, a Steering Committee, and 5 Work Groups. In two years, the Council developed a Food Access Plan with five Strategic Initiatives. Their goal is to develop a Food Systems Plan by 2027.
To date, the Council's highlights include active involvement in the Healthy School Meals for All NY kids campaign and partnering with Binghamton University’s Food Justice group to compile a story map using GIS (Geographic Information Systems). This technology is being used across the country to map services, demographics of people, and transportation, strictly to tell a story of food insecurity in communities.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5th, 2026, at 1:00 PM. If you are interested in attending or if you would like to learn more about the Council, please feel free to contact Theresa Krause: 607-796-6061 ext. 4032
The Council gratefully acknowledges the funding provided by the New York Health Foundation, along with the leadership and administrative support of the Food Banks of the Southern Tier. This support sustains the Food Council Manager position, housed within the Food Bank, which provides coordination and facilitation for the Council's work.