A new effort between two organizations is making sure that families who are strapped for food get the nutrition they need.  

Empire Blue Cross-Blue Shield donated a $450,000 check to the Food Bank for New York City in a new partnership to help fight local hunger.  

“When you look at the entire ecosystem of a person, they need food to be healthy, to even having the strength to [get] where they need to go,” said Victor Bell, representative from Empire Blue Cross-Blue Shield.  

Numbers from the national nonprofit Feeding America show that one in nine people and one in six children across New York state are going hungry.  

More New York residents have been turning to food banks as food prices have drastically risen recently, but those food banks themselves have been faced with the task of meeting the increased demand.  

For residents like Rosie Rivera, the fresh produce and other goods that food banks provide are essential to making ends meet.  

“I feel like I can’t buy it, because I don’t have enough money or my food stamps are not enough,” said Rivera, who waited on a line that went around the corner for food.  

Empire Blue Cross-Blue Shield is planning to give over $1 million to food banks across the state, saying they plan to do food giveaways at least once a month.