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You help people with firsthand experience of food insecurity find their voices and lead change in their communities through the Food Bank’s Community Advocates Program, called CAP.

Since its start in 2016, the program has grown to empower Southern Tier residents to advocate for themselves and others and debunk myths about food insecurity.

Having these speakers share their experiences is vital. Their voices bring real stories of food insecurity into the community, inspiring others who face similar challenges and helping to break down stigma. When people hear from someone who truly understands their situation, it creates connection, hope, and the motivation to seek help or take action to advocate for sustainable policy changes with their elected officials.

Steering Committee Member Cheri Stevens says, “I’m excited to see CAP become better known and help members speak up about issues that matter to them.”

Dawn Tallett, a founding member of the program, adds, “CAP matters because I don’t want to just complain about poverty. I want to do something about it. I’m proud that CAP members’ experiences help community groups better understand food insecurity to spark change.”

Your support gives CAP members confidence and skills to lead change by joining community leadership groups and helping share community decisions based on their experience. Together, we are building and sustaining hunger-free communities where everyone can thrive.

Thank you for making their voices heard and their work possible.

This article was part of our Fall 2025 Harvester newsletter, click here to view.