This February, we are focusing on food insecurity in the Hudson Valley. During the month, we are encouraging all clubs to participate in a service project around this topic. In addition to food, items that are often overlooked but are in desperate need at our local food pantries is hygiene products. This could be soap, shampoo, feminine hygiene items, etc. When creating your project, please consider incorporating these items as well.
Remember: #7210feedinghudsonvalley on all social media!
Below are a few ideas to get you started. Remember, you can do a project as an entire club, or present opportunities to members to volunteer individually!
• Conduct a Food Drive to collect for your local food pantry at your local grocery store or through another organization (kids basketball team, church, etc)
• Set up a food drop-box at the library or town hall
• Have your members bring in food to your meetings each week in February
• Serve food to those in need
• Local soup kitchen
• Hope on a Mission (Dutchess County)
• Volunteer at a local food pantry (see list attached)
• Work with your local schools to establish a hygiene pantry where students can geet soap, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, etc that they may not otherwise have access to.
Food Insecurity - Resources throughout the Hudson Valley:
(This is not an exhaustive list but rather a starting point to find the right fit for your project. If you know of other organizations in your county, please share with the District Service Committee (vtkessler@gmail.com) as well as the other clubs in your area)
Food Bank of the Hudson Valley (click on your county to find local organizations): https://regionalfoodbank.net/agency-list-by-county/albany/
Salvation Army (enter your zip code to find volunteer opportunities): https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/greater-new-york/volunteer/
Dutchess
Dutchess Outreach: https://dutchessoutreach.org
Columbia/Greene
Cornell Cooperative Extension: http://ccecolumbiagreene.org/family-consumer-sciences/parenting-nutrition/nutrition/food-pantries-in-columbia-and-greene-counties
Columbia Opportunities Inc: https://www.columbiaopportunities.org/emergency-assistance-1
Orange
RECAP: https://www.recap.org/volunteer/
Putnam
Second Chance Foods: https://secondchancefoods.org/volunteer
Rockland
People to People: https://www.peopletopeopleinc.org/donate
Sullivan
Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless: http://www.scfederation.org/volunteer.html
Ulster
