The need for food assistance is growing while emergency food agencies are closing or providing limited access. The Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County Gleaning/Food Access Program, comprised of both CCE staff and Master Gardener volunteers, and led by CCE’s Stiles Najac, donned in hand-sewn cloth masks, swiftly modified their typical operations to the new and arising needs of those experiencing food insecurity. Collecting pre-packaged bags of food from TOUCH, a community based public health organization, the team then delivers the bags to homes in need. Since April 2, the team has made 129 deliveries reaching 385 community members.
“Food is moving! People are getting fed. Gaps in the system change from one week to the next, one day to the next. Soup kitchens and food pantries are proving to be agile and very effective at finding ways to fill those gaps,” said Najac.
