MONTGOMERY, N.Y.–The Regional Food Bank distributed Thanksgiving dinners to Orange County residents in need on Nov. 22, bringing together more than one hundred volunteers.
Volunteers and food bank workers worked together to bring 30-pound bags of food to a long line of people’s cars as they drove through the parking lot of the new Regional Food Bank warehouse in the Town of Montgomery at 10 a.m.
Families who received food were made to fill out an Office of General Services form, which confirmed that they qualified for the aid. They then drove behind the warehouse, where volunteers gave them food. None of the recipients had to leave their cars, as volunteers asked if they would like the food in the back seat or the trunk and put it in for them.
The bags of food included ham, potatoes, cranberry sauce, vegetables, fruit, pie, and other items, as well as a frozen turkey.
Only families with household incomes at or below 225 percent of the federal poverty level were eligible for the food distribution. For one person, that would mean making less than $35,212 a year—for a family of four, $72,337.
The distribution at the Regional Food Bank warehouse was part of a larger operation by the organization: The food bank distributed Thanksgiving dinners not just at the warehouse in Montgomery but also across 24 other distribution sites in 23 counties. A total of 350,000 meals were distributed by 2,500 volunteers across New York.
Another food distribution center was set up in Orange County at Mount Saint Mary College, 330 Powell Avenue, Newburgh.
Senior Director of Operations at the warehouse John Lubbers told The Epoch Times that the distribution had received higher than expected local support.
“At this location, we had officially 75 [volunteers] signed up, but there was an outpouring from the community. And we ended up with over 100,” he said.
“We had volunteers that came in as early as 6:30 in the morning and have come in shifts throughout the course of that time. They have built these bags, broken down pallets for us, helped us with the cleanup, things like that. And now they are in the process of handling the distribution.”
Lubbers said that they expected to distribute 600 to 700 turkeys out of the warehouse location.
Dave Stevenson is a member of the Fox Hill Community in the Village of Walden, a Bruderhof Christian community. He came to the distribution center to volunteer with his wife.
Stevenson told The Epoch Times, “We do [volunteer work] as part of our outreach to the neighborhood. So we just happened to be in the right place when somebody asked me about it. And I go and do that little service, you know, for our neighbors.”
Dan Grazier, also of Walden, volunteered at the warehouse with his two daughters. He’s been a volunteer at the food bank in the past, and started because he is a good friend of John Lubbers. Grazier’s job was to direct cars and make sure people parked safely so volunteers could load the food bags.
“I just enjoy it. I’ve got plenty of stuff that I need, I’ve got a bounty. And I like giving back and helping out people that are less fortunate,” Grazier said.
The Regional Food Bank operates as a not-for-profit organization. It receives food donations from major food companies, such as ShopRite, Walmart, and Price Chopper, and distributes them to to more than 1,000 local partners in the Western half of New York.
