For the past month, they’ve orchestrated food box giveaways, providing free 20 lb. boxes of produce to county residents. To date, over 7,200 boxes have been given to Western New York families in need. That’s 144,000 pounds of fresh produce!
The giveaways are possible through the USDA Farmers-to-Families Program, which supports the agricultural sector by distributing food to families in need. Each box contains assorted produce such as potatoes, oranges, apples, onions, broccoli, cabbage, green peppers, and carrots. Much of the produce, including cabbage, apples, and onions, comes from Orleans County Farms.
In Niagara County, CCE staff held their first Farmers-to-Families food box giveaway on May 29th on the Niagara County Fairgrounds in Lockport, with a satellite location at Niagara Street Elementary School in Niagara Falls. Demand for the food boxes was so high, vehicles began lining up more than an hour in advance at each location. The 1,200 boxes ran out within the first three hours.
A second giveaway was held on June 13th, with satellite distribution hubs at both Harry F. Abate Elementary School in Niagara Falls, and Spruce Elementary School in North Tonawanda. On June 26th, the third giveaway was held at Niagara Falls High School, in response to parts of the City of Niagara Falls being a food desert—an area where residents have limited access to fresh, healthy, and affordable foods.
CCE Niagara’s next food box giveaway is scheduled for Friday, July 10th at the Niagara County Fairgrounds, in partnership with the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department.
