September is Hunger Action Month and the Food Bank for New York City is taking its fight to end hunger to the nation's capital.
About 50 people representing the Food Bank and its member organizations on Tuesday morning boarded a bus for Washington where they plan to meet with New York's Congressional delegation.
They want Congress to restore funding that can help them feed hungry New Yorkers.
"Our member organizations come to Washington D.C. they take time away from their daily lives to travel there to make sure the elected officials hear about anti-hunger priorities," said Rachel Sabella of the Food Bank for NYC.
"As a long time member of the food bank I've seen the need and the lines grow much, much longer as far as the food pantries are concerned," said Vets Inc. Executive Director Sharon Sweeting-Lindsey.
About 1.4 million New Yorkers rely on emergency food programs including soup kitchens and pantries.
The Food Bank works with more than a thousand charities to help provide 64 million free meals per year.