The Food Bank partners with the Jewish community to fight hunger through the Yom Kippur Hunger Appeal. During this appeal, members of the Jewish community generously donate the cost of meals not eaten during the High Holy Day of Yom Kippur as a way to share with their hungry neighbors.
For more information about the Yom Kippur Hunger Appeal, please contact:
Jessica Tanner
518-786-3691 x295
jessicat@regionalfoodbank.net
We have many neighbors in need after Hurricane Irene. We are currently working with NY SEMO and the National Guard to ensure those stranded by the hurricane get the food they need. Sunmark FCU is collecting water and non-perishables at all of their branches, Hannaford is taking donationg at their registers, and the Food Bank greatly appreciates the support!
How else can you help?
Make a donation to the Food Bank for Hurricane Relief.
Given the recent weather and the large impact Tropical Storm Irene has had on the region including farms in Rensselaer County, Rensselaer County Farm Bureau and the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York are canceling this year’s A Taste of Rensselaer County. Originally scheduled to be held on September 14, 2011, A Taste of Rensselaer County is an annual event meant to connect consumers to the vital role agriculture plays in Rensselaer County. All dishes offered at the event are created from ingredients sourced within the county and highlight the bounty provided to the community by area farmers. All proceeds from this year’s event were to benefit the Regional Food Bank.
“Tropical Storm Irene has deeply impacted area farms including key vegetable farms in Rensselaer County. Given the nature of A Taste of Rensselaer County and its close connection to local farmers, we have decided to cancel the event,” said Dean Casey, President of Rensselaer County Farm Bureau. “We see this as an opportunity to educate the public about the close relationship between nature and the food that we eat. It’s now time to shift gears and work to keep our farming community intact.”
To that end, Rensselaer County Farm Bureau, the Agricultural Stewardship Association, the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and others are coming together to create a “Seed Bank” for farmers. This central fund will be available to vegetable farmers affected by flooding in the area to apply for financial assistance to purchase the vital seeds needed to invest in their business.
“As a key provider of disaster relief, the Regional Food Bank recognizes the need to reach out to our farm partners,” said Joanne Dwyer, Director of Food Industry Relations & Business Development Representative for the Regional Food Bank. “We look forward to working with Rensselaer County Farm Bureau and the Agricultural Stewardship Association in re-directing the great effort and awareness built by A Taste of Rensselaer County to help those who so often help us.”
For more information on the Seed Bank or on how you can make a donation to the fund, please contact Jennifer Jennings, Food Industry Relations Associate at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York at 518.786.3691 ext. 286 or at jenniferj@regionalfoodbank.net.
(CNN) – It’s hard to believe, but one in seven Americans – 15% of the country – now need government-provided food stamps simply to survive.
The new numbers just came out from the United States Department of Agriculture, which administers what’s officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Nearly 46 million Americans receive food stamps out of a population of some 311 million people. That’s the highest number on record.
The continued high unemployment and the weak U.S. economy have contributed to the explosive growth of the food stamp program – with no end in sight to the monthly increases.
Here’s some context:
- In October 2007, some 27 million Americans were on food stamps.
- A year later, October 2008, the number had reached nearly 31 million.
- By October 2009, the number was approaching more than 37 million.
- Last October saw the program increase to 43 million.
- By the end of May, 45,753,078 Americans were dependent on food stamps.
So how much money in food stamps do they get?
- An eligible individual gets $200 a month in food stamps – in the form of a debit card that can be used at supermarkets and stores to buy authorized food.
- A two-person household gets $367 a month.
- A three-person household gets $526 a month.
- And a four-person household gets $668 a month.
That’s certainly not a lot of money to purchase food for adults and children, but that’s what so many American families have to live on. Many of them simply don’t have any other money.
By the way, the just-approved first round of nearly $1 trillion in debt ceiling spending cuts over the next 10 years exempted any cuts in the food stamps program.
-Wolf Blitzer, cnn.com
Every year, the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York receives donated produce from over 60 local farmers. These successful farm/Food Bank relationships helped the organization distribute over 1.2 million pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables in 2010.
The decade-long partnership between the Food Bank and Black Horse Farms in Coxsackie, NY has been especially productive and culminated with a donation of over 130,000 pounds in 2010 alone. “The donated produce we receive from local farms is the freshest, most nutritious we have to offer to the 1,000 agencies we serve,” said Joanne Dwyer, Director of Food Industry Relations & Business Development Representative for the Food Bank. “One of the reasons that 2010 was such a banner year for our relationship with Black Horse Farms is Mr. Zimmermann’s commitment to the integration of sorting produce that can be donated to the Food Bank as a function of his daily operations for all of the items he grows.”
Lloyd Zimmermann, owner of Black Horse Farms grows more than 30 crops on over 800 acres, including summer and winter squash, peas, cucumbers, peppers and watermelons. The farm has created a system for the most efficient and effective way of sorting saleable produce from that meant for donation.
The farm sets very high standards for the produce it sells to its customers, which include individuals at its farm market locations, wholesalers, retailers and restaurants. The produce donated to the Food Bank will have some flaw that makes it less marketable, but is still wholesome to eat.
“It used to be that the guys would throw anything bad away right in the field, but that also included nutritionally good though unmarketable produce,” said Zimmermann. “Now, they know to pick such items as well and bring them in with the rest for the sorting room to decide. The only difference between the donated produce and the stuff you can buy at our stand, for example, is that it has a blemish – the eating quality is perfect.”
As workers sort the produce in the packing room, there is always a bin set at the sorting table for donation to the Food Bank. “We began to incorporate the Food Bank donation right at the sorting table last year and found that it worked really well,” noted Zimmermann. “Other farms can easily do the same thing as they pack. People will appreciate anything a farmer can give them.”
Items set aside for donation are placed into the farm’s cooler. The farm then calls the Food Bank to arrange pick-up of the items. A Food Bank truck usually arrives the next day and brings the donation back to the Food Bank’s Latham site.
The donated produce is then put out for agencies to take. Fresh produce such as the donation from Black Horse Farms is used by food pantries and feeding programs such as soup kitchens. Ken Cherubin of Bethesda House in Schenectady was one of the first to see the most recent Black Horse Farms donation. “Having fresh produce to choose from is a great asset. Our chef always appreciates being able to incorporate these kinds of items into the meals we serve.”
The benefits of donating don’t rest solely on the side of the Food Bank; it has an impact on everyone at Black Horse Farms as well. “For me, the main benefit is that I know people are getting a wholesome, solid product that is needed and appreciated, but my men feel good as well – something I didn’t realize would happen. They are proud to be helping out and giving back to those who need it the most,” said Zimmermann.
Fresh produce from local farms such as Black Horse Farms is put out for agencies to take back for distribution at a food pantry or to serve at an on-site feeding program. In 2010, the Food Bank served nearly 250,000 people. “We receive a great deal of support from farms, but the system for donation Black Horse Farms has incorporated is truly an innovative, comprehensive approach that can be easily replicated at other farms,” noted Dwyer. “We are grateful to the Zimmermann family for setting a new standard for donations from the farming community and are hopeful their efforts will inspire others.”
For more information on how you too can donate farm-fresh produce, please contact Bob Baker at the Regional Food Bank (bobb@regionalfoodbank.net or 518-786-3691). You can find out all about Black Horse Farms at www.blackhorsefarms.com.
The Regional Food Bank recently began a partnership with Senior Whole Health to distribute fresh food to low income senior citizens who might not otherwise have access to fresh, healthy food. Check out this article from the Post Star to learn more.
The Regional Food Bank has a limited number of CSA shares available for purchase! For $400, shareholders will receive a weekly supply of vegetables (enough for a family of four!) from early July through October. Don’t have a full family? Half-shares are only $250. In 2010, the average Family Share weighed 19 pounds and half shares 11 pounds, and both included a wide variety of vegetables – broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, cauliflower, greens, carrots, onions, potatoes, corn, cabbage, beets, melons, and much more! Be sure to order your share quickly before they sell out! Purchasing a CSA share financially supports the Farm so the Food Bank can continue providing fresh nutritious produce to hungry people. Your support will allow hungry families to receive the same nutritional produce CSA members receive. To sign up or for more information, contact Bob Baker at 786-3691 x296 or BobB@regionalfoodbank.net.
Sunmark Federal Credit Union to Partner with Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York for Fundraising Efforts
Partnership will be utilized to raise awareness for the Food Bank and engage volunteerism locally
LATHAM, N.Y. – - Sunmark Federal Credit Union, a full-service, community chartered credit union serving those who live and work in Albany, Schenectady, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schoharie and Rensselaer counties, will partner with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York to raise awareness and increase fundraising in its efforts to serve people of the Capital District.
The partnership, effective immediately, will raise money, awareness and food for the Regional Food Bank utilizing Sunmark Federal Credit Union branches as locations where its 40,000 members can drop off food donations, make monetary contributions, and learn more about the Food Bank. Sunmark will also promote the Food Bank and conduct food drives at a number of Sunmark-sponsored events throughout 2011 including: Country Fest, Troy Night Out and Tri-City ValleyCats games throughout the summer.
“The Regional Food Bank is an excellent organization that consistently steps up to address the difficult issue of hunger in our area,” said Sunmark Federal Credit Union President and CEO Bruce M. Beaudette. “I’ve supported the work of the Regional Food Bank for years and I’m delighted that Sunmark has an opportunity to play an important role in helping them achieve their goals for 2011.”
This partnership is an expansion of Sunmark’s on-going Members Helping Members program. The program, officially launched in 2008, created a network between Sunmark’s members and businesses to foster cooperation in dealing with local economic and energy issues facing residents of the Capital Region. The Regional Food Bank partnership expands this program to support the Capital Region’s nonprofit sector as the Credit Union endeavors to help members and residents of the region.
“We are very excited to partner with Sunmark Federal Credit Union to raise food, funds, and awareness for the Regional Food Bank throughout 2011,” said Mark Quandt, Executive Director of the Regional Food Bank. “Sunmark’s support will make a huge difference in all efforts to feed the growing number of hungry people in our communities this year.”
As part of this year-long initiative, the Regional Food Bank will also receive the funds from the 2011 Sunmark Golf Classic being held on August 19th at the Van Patten Golf Course in Clifton Park. Approximately 230 Sunmark Federal Credit Union business partners and employees will participate in this year’s golf tournament along with local residents who wish to support the Food Bank. For more information on the 2011 Sunmark Golf Classic and sponsorship opportunities, log onto www.sunmarkfcu.org/golf or call the event’s organizer, Rich Meddaugh, at (518) 382-2597 ext. 3129 or email rmeddaugh@sunmarkfcu.org.
About Sunmark Federal Credit Union
Sunmark Federal Credit Union® is a full-service, community chartered credit union serving those who live, work, worship or attend school in Albany, Schenectady, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schoharie and Rensselaer counties in New York. Sunmark has assets of $400 million and serves more than 43,000 members and businesses. For more information, visit their web site at www.sunmarkfcu.org.
We were thrilled to receive news that Feeding America approved our request to fund an additional person in the Food Sourcing department. This award, which covers a partial salary for two years, will allow us to reach out to more food donors and secure even more donated products for our member agencies.
The Regional Food Bank is a member of:
Feeding America sets standards and acquires food donations from national companies for its 200+ member food banks located throughout the country.
Learn more>>
The Association assists the food bank network by obtaining more food and funds for its members, fostering public awareness of the food banks’ mission, and creating partnerships to help alleviate hunger in New York State.
Learn more>>
