The Regional Food Bank has been helping to feed the poor and hungry in our communities since 1982. It is the only organization of its kind in northeastern New York. The Food Bank collects large donations of food from the food industry and distributes it to charitable agencies serving people in need in 23 counties. From Plattsburgh to Newburgh, in urban, rural, and suburban communities, the Food Bank provides over 50 million pounds of food a year to 1,000 agencies. The Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks.

History

The Regional Food Bank was created by a group of food pantry coordinators and anti-hunger advocates in June 1982. The Food Bank operated for seven years in a commercial storage warehouse, and in 1989 moved into a newly constructed 21,000 square-foot warehouse. The Food Bank outgrew this facility in less than four years and moved its operation to a modern 42,000 square-foot warehouse in 1993. In 2017, the Food Bank completed a major renovation project to significantly expand its warehouse storage space in an effort to meet the ever-growing requests for food assistance. The Food Bank now has a 70,000 square-foot building to accommodate donations.

In 1990, the Regional Food Bank opened a branch facility in the lower Hudson Valley to increase donations from food companies and improve services to agencies in this region. This branch, called Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, is housed in a 55,000 square-foot warehouse in Cornwall-on-Hudson in Orange County.

Together, the Regional Food Bank and Food Bank of the Hudson Valley provide more than 55 million pounds of food each year to 1,000 member agencies in the 23 counties. The Food Bank’s service area encompasses 41% of the landmass of New York State.

Mission

The mission of the Regional Food Bank is to alleviate hunger and prevent food waste. We work toward this mission by ensuring that all products available for donation reach the Food Bank and are distributed judiciously to our member agencies; by practicing responsible stewardship; and by actively participating in the community to increase awareness of hunger and poverty.

The Regional Food Bank is a non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.