Food Pantry Expands Fall Distributions

Responding to the continued need in our community, and thanks to key grants, the Community Food Pantry is happy to announce twice-monthly distributions from September through December 2022. The distribution dates for the rest of the year are September 22, October 13 & 27, November 10 & 17, and December 8 & 15.

During the first year of the COVID epidemic, exceptionally generous donations to the Pantry had enabled us to offer bi-monthly distributions, but for one year only. We were forced to return to monthly distributions in July 2021 because giving did not keep pace with costs. In the summer of 2022 we learned we would receive some significant, one-time grants. This has made it possible for us to not only expand in our traditional location at Christ Church in Tarrytown, but to also fully fund a pantry at Sleepy Hollow High School (See story below!)

We in particular thank our major granters, including Westchester County, The Westchester Community Foundation, the Kids’ Club, The Phelps Corporation, and the Field Hall Foundation.

In making these commitments for the rest of 2022, the pantry is spending approximately $25,000 per month, even more at the holidays. To help us continue this work, please consider donating. We also need twice as many volunteers!

CFP to Fully Fund High School Food Pantry

The Community Food Pantry has agreed to fully fund the Sleepy Hollow High School food pantry, effective immediately. The Community Food Pantry is able to offer this extension of food assistance thanks to a grant from Westchester County, which ends in December of this year. We’d love to continue our support for this program in 2023 – and we can with your help. Please donate!

We learned that teachers and staff last spring at Sleepy Hollow High School had launched a food pantry for the families of their students in need – out of their own pockets!

School secretary Jacki Geoghegan said it all began when a student asked for help with hunger...and then another family came forward also. Geoghegan and Principal Debbie Brand surveyed students, learning that more than 70 students had faced hunger and a lack of food.

What began as weekly help for a handful of families rapidly expanded to 25 families by last spring. The Foundation for the Public Schools provided an emergency grant, and Tarrytown & Sleepy Hollow Farmers Market (TASH) pledged fruits and vegetables from their weekend market, but the demand far outstripped those resources. In mid-September, 58 families, representing 263 people, registered for food support at the high school.

High school staff and retirees supervise registration, organization and distribution of the high school pantry, with bagging help from student volunteers. We are so proud of our school community, and gratified to be able to provide assistance to their worthy endeavor. 

Hunger in 10591, Hiding in Plain Sight

For many years the Community Food Pantry served a steady number of registrants, hovering around 200 families per month. With the pandemic, our numbers jumped to double and triple that, with expanded numbers of distributions as well. Some have asked: Why haven’t the numbers of families turning to the Pantry for help returned to pre-pandemic levels? Is it all about inflation?

Our research shows that while inflation is certainly affecting all of us, the needs of our neighbors were always far beyond the numbers of those we helped. COVID may be more manageable now, and jobs may be more plentiful, but for many of our neighbors, resources and income are not enough.

 According to the United Way more than 2,711 families in 10591 are asset limited – and income-constrained – despite being employed. They make more than the federal poverty level, but less than the basic cost of living in Westchester County. As a point of reference, the federal poverty level is $26,500 for a family of four. Even harder to imagine: 742 families in our zip code are living below that poverty level. (United Way of Westchester/Putnam.)

 Another indicator of need can be found in the numbers of students in 10591 who are eligible for reduced-cost or free lunches: 1,653 children in the last academic year.

 An undetermined number of our clients do not receive food stamps because of their documentation status. But they live, study and work among us, trying their best to stay healthy and safe. We want to help them, and we know you do, too.

Thank you so much for your support!

We couldn’t do it without you!

White House to Host Conference on Hunger This Week

For the first time in more than 50 years, the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health will be held Wednesday, September 28.

The Conference will convene public and private sectors, catalyzing our nation’s leaders around a coordinated strategy to accelerate progress and drive significant change to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, and reduce disparities.

We need your help to make meaningful change in our community. It will take everyone working together to be the change needed to finally end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases and disparities. Thank you for your support as we build a healthier and more equitable future for all.

Thank you for your support!