BackPack Program
The BackPack Program helps alleviate child hunger by discreetly providing hungry children with bags of nutritious and easy-to-prepare food every Friday afternoon, so they have food to eat throughout the weekend. Although free and reduced breakfast and lunch programs provide significant nutritional benefits to students during the school day, many disadvantaged children do not have access to regular meals when school is not in session.
Photo courtesy Feeding America
“I like the BackPack Club because there is good food, healthy food, and something new every week. It helps Mom not have to worry about food.”
– Program Participant
The Care Necessities
More than 350,000 people in northeastern New York are often forced to make the choice between paying for housing and utilities or purchasing basic items like feminine hygiene products, diapers, toiletries, and other items not supported by SNAP (food stamp) benefits. Join the Regional Food Bank’s campaign, sponsored by Bank of America, to collect these basic essentials and level the playing field for our neighbors in need—one hygiene product at a time.
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Food as Medicine
In an effort to reduce food insecurity and increase overall health, the Food Bank Food as Medicine program partners with health care agencies to develop onsite pantries that distribute tailored groceries to support patients’ chronic diseases. This food is distributed in conjunction with food access resources, nutrition education, and counseling opportunities.
For more information, email our Food as Medicine Manager.
Just in Time
The Food Bank delivers perishable food to food pantries ‘just in time’ for them to open, overcoming pantries’ barriers of inadequate transportation and storage capacity for such items. The program aims to increase access to fresh fruit, vegetables, and dairy for our neighbors in need.
“In order to truly understand their gratitude you would need to be present. On many occasions I have witnessed people crying out of gratitude for the food they received. So many people have shared with me how receiving the produce each week has helped their family have something to eat.”
– Food Pantry Coordinator
Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables
Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables is a nutrition education initiative designed to prevent overweight/obesity and reduce long-term chronic disease risks through the promotion of increased fruit and vegetable consumption. Using FDA approved nutrition education workshops and cooking and food demonstrations, JSY works to ensure low-income families in eat nutritious foods, make the most of their food budgets, prepare foods in a safe manner, increase physical activity and drink healthier beverages.
Mass Distribution
The Food Bank partners with large agencies to host deliveries of surplus food, which is then shared with other Food Bank member agencies to augment their food supplies, with a particular focus on healthy, perishable items like fresh produce and dairy. Mass Distributions expand access to food for agencies in outlying areas.
Mobile Pantries
The Food Bank’s Mobile Pantries provide food pantry distributions to residents in underserved communities that lack brick-and-mortar food pantries and nearby grocery stores. Participants select from a variety of nutritious foods to ensure what they receive meets their household’s needs.
Patroon Land Farm
Since 2006, the Patroon Land Farm has produced over 1,100,000 pounds of fresh vegetables for hungry New Yorkers. The Farm, managed by the Regional Food Bank, is 50% community and volunteer driven. Volunteers plant seeds in our greenhouse; plant the transplants in the fields; harvest, wash, sort and pack. Sign up for a shift today! Our farm stand at 132 Ketcham Road in Voorheesville is open to the public during the growing season for farm fresh veggies and flowers to take home and enjoy!
Retail Store Distribution Program (RSDP)
The Retail Store Donation Program (RSDP) enables the Regional Food Bank to work with grocers to recover safe and nutritious food that is expensive and difficult to obtain, including meat, dairy, and produce. These items are often discarded because of strict guidelines. This program allows food insecure residents throughout Northeastern New York to prepare well-balanced, nutritious meals for themselves and their families.
School Pantry Program
The School Pantry Program provides emergency food assistance that meets the unique needs of preteens and teens struggling with hunger during the school year. The program offers flexibility for all involved; schools can select what foods they receive, and students can select what foods they want and can use. Students can access the pantry sporadically, or regularly as their circumstances dictate. This model ensures dignity and choice and reduces waste. Schools can select from nonperishable, fresh, and frozen food as their capacity allows.
“Thanks to the School Pantry Program, I am able to provide food to 30 diverse students. In addition to canned/boxed staple foods, we can provide fresh produce, meat, dairy, and many other household staples. Fighting food insecurity is an uphill battle, especially now with rising food and gas prices. We are so thankful for the School Pantry Program!”
Senior Food Delivery
In partnership with low-income senior housing sites, the Food Bank’s Senior Food Delivery Program provides free food to low-income seniors at their housing facilities monthly or bi-weekly, ideally during weeks when transportation to grocery stores is unavailable. Product is delivered by the Food Bank and distributed in community rooms where seniors choose from a variety of free fresh produce, dairy, and other nutritious items.
