MIDDLETOWN – For the past 16 years, the mission of Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County’s Gleaning Program has been to deliver donated fresh foods to community organizations, food pantries, emergency shelters and soup kitchens. Many of these organizations face barriers to providing fresh foods and the Gleaning Program has filled that gap with local food delivered with the help of their own refrigerated “Gleanmobile” and volunteers.
However, the COVID-19 Pandemic has created more barriers and struggles for most, and the population of individuals in need of food assistance is growing. Organizations that provide food to people facing food insecurity in Orange County have new needs and the Gleaning Team could help. It was important to Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County to quickly and safely adapt their food distribution program to continue to be able to deliver food now more than ever.
Stiles Najac, food security community liaison at CCEOC, adapted the gleaning program to enlist volunteers to deliver bags of food directly to individuals and families sheltering at home. On Thursday, April 3rd she and two other CCEOC staff members completed the first deliveries during this time. Stiles, Rachel Moody and Daniel Foss met at the CCEOC Office in Middletown, put on their masks and gloves, and then split up to make the deliveries safely. Their masks were made by DeAnna Sardella-Matthews, Orange County 4-H resource educator. CCEOC’S 4-H Team is currently working on making and distributing masks to local essential workers.
Food was donated by TOUCH (Together Our Unity Can Heal, Inc.) which is an agency serving Rockland and Orange counties. They put together 16 bags of food for the Gleaning Team to deliver. These packages of food were designed for any kitchen, including ones that only have access to hot plates.
Deliveries were made to individuals who are currently in need and sheltering at home throughout Orange County. The individuals were referred by agencies including Access Supports for Living, RECAP, Salvation Army of Middletown, United Healthcare, St. Paul’s Mission, and TOUCH. Each of these agencies are working tirelessly to get food to people who are in need. Without them, the Gleaning Program would not be able to do what it does.
