March 16, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Food Bank Plans Increased Service in Response to COVID-19
The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley – along with its parent organization, the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York – is actively responding to increased emergency food needs resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. The situation is changing daily, but already food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, and other organizations are reaching out for guidance and support. The Food Bank has provided additional food for several of its school BackPack Programs to ensure vulnerable children have the food they need now that schools have closed. Some food pantries may close temporarily to protect their elderly volunteer force. In those cases, the Food Bank will either set up special distributions to fill the gaps or provide additional assistance to nearby pantries experiencing an increase in demand.
“We have responded in a positive way to several disasters in the past,” said Mark Quandt, Executive Director of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. “But this situation is unique. The level of need for emergency food assistance is unknown right now, so we are preparing for the worst.” Still, Quandt said, the Food Bank is committed to meeting the food needs of people who are negatively impacted by this crisis. “We are the only not-for-profit organization in the region that can respond on such a wide scale, and we take that obligation very seriously.”
The Food Bank will need additional financial and volunteer support to meet the increased demand for its services. Contributions can be mailed to the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, 195 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson NY 12520, or made online at www.foodbankofhudsonvalley.org. Volunteers can also sign up on that website. Other offers of support, questions, and requests for help can be directed to 845-534-5344 or info@foodbankofhudsonvalley.org.
About The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley
The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that collects donated food from the food industry and distributes it to 400 charitable agencies feeding more than 117,000 food-insecure people in 6 counties of the Hudson Valley. Last year, the organization distributed more than 16 million pounds of food. The Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks, and is supported by foundations, private contributions, and fundraising events. For more information, call (845) 534-5344 or visit www.foodbankofhudsonvalley.org.
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For more information, contact:
Paul A. Stermer, Director
Food Bank of the Hudson Valley
Office: 845-534-5344 ext. 104
Cell: 269-369-5171
pstermer@foodbankofhudsonvalley.org