PINE PLAINS – Three Democratic State Assembly members have announced they have secured $100,000 for Dutchess Outreach in Poughkeepsie. The non-profit organization helps combat food insecurity in the Hudson Valley.
Assemblywoman Didi Barrett (D, Hudson) joined with Assemblymen Jonathan Jacobson (D, Newburgh), and Kevin Cahill (D, Kingston) at Chaseholm Farm in Pine Plains to make the announcement.
“Access to fresh, nutritious food is essential for New Yorkers of every age and in every community across the state. As Dutchess County is blessed with world-class soils and outstanding small and mid-sized family farms, local food should be available and accessible to all Dutchess families, regardless of income,” Barrett said.
“This is a win-win situation for both Dutchess residents and local farms. Even before the pandemic, Dutchess Outreach did a tremendous job working to ensure that community members had access to good, healthy food. Whether it’s providing hot meals at the Lunch Box, pantry staples, or fresh, local produce from partners like Chaseholm Farms, Dutchess Outreach is a reliable resource for those who need it most,” said Jacobson.
“Food insecurity has emerged as one of the greatest concerns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic presently affecting our state. I am happy to work together with my colleagues and community organizations towards addressing a solution to that concern,” said Cahill.
Accepting the funding, Dutchess Outreach Executive Director Renee Fillette said, Dutchess Outreach prides itself on connecting community members to the healthiest and most local food possible.”
With the support offered by the lawmakers, “we will be able to more consistently ensure that local Hudson Valley farmed foods are getting into the hands of the people that need them the most. ”
Dutchess Outreach, founded in the 1970s, works to reduce food insecurity by ensuring access to nutritious and sustainably grown food and providing emergency relief to community members. They offer a variety of community programs in the area, including the widely-lauded Lunch Box meal program that provides two hot meals a day to those in need.
This latest grant will fund the organization’s food pantry, Lunch Box meal program, and other programs that increase access to nutritious food.
The organization also works with Dutchess County to provide a five-day supply of free groceries for an entire household through its food pantry.
In 2019, the pantry provided more than 87,000 meals to more than 9,000 people in the community, including more than 3,000 children.
