Dear Friends,
We live in challenging times. Despite the abundance of food grown and available in our community, some of our neighbors lack the basic necessities needed to live healthy lives. Children without nutritious food at home look to the programs which provide them with breakfast and lunch at school. Seniors who lack transportation are provided access to meals. And families struggling to afford the rising cost of food look to their local food pantry to fill the gap.
Our community is in a unique position to help. Your support is vital to the success of a Capital Campaign to expand the facilities of the Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. This will enable the intake and distribution of larger quantities of food to feed those experiencing food insecurity throughout the Hudson Valley.
You can be part of our efforts to raise the final funds needed to construct the Regional Food Bank’s new distribution facility in Montgomery, New York. The project is already underway. The Food Bank, with the assistance of the Town of Montgomery, has secured a $10.7 million Community Development Block Grant. Coupled with funds raised to date there remains a gap of $6.5 million to complete the project.
With the new distribution facility, the Food Bank will be able to address the current and future needs of our neighbors in the Hudson Valley. This facility will serve people in the six counties of Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, Rockland, Putnam, and Sullivan. Expanded freezer and cooler space will enable a greater intake of nutritious fruits and vegetables. The new location creates a more economical and efficient distribution of the food to more than 300 partner food pantries, schools, and senior sites. Increased dock space will enable greater food acquisition from food partners. In short, the new facility will resolve current space limitations and provide more efficient delivery of over 20 million pounds of food to those in need.
We have undertaken the role of assisting the Food Bank in reaching its financial goal. We ask you to join us and the campaign committee members in the challenge to alleviate hunger in our community by lending your financial support. Thank you for your consideration and interest.
Sincerely,
John F. Rath, Chair and Derrik Wynkoop, Honorary Chair
