Food distribution increases

Community groups respond to COVID-19 by delivering food

By Lina Wu
Posted 4/1/20

As grocery stores sell out in products, community figures and groups have united together to provide security in the form of food deliveries, and food distributions to the most in need. These …

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Food distribution increases

Community groups respond to COVID-19 by delivering food

Posted

As grocery stores sell out in products, community figures and groups have united together to provide security in the form of food deliveries, and food distributions to the most in need. These services have managed to create unity and confidence during the novel coronavirus [COVID-19] crisis.

The Newburgh Enlarged City School District is one of the organizations that has mobilized to support the community. Those interested in finding the district’s food distribution sites and scheduling can check newburghschools.org.

Last Thursday afternoon, a long line of people stood outside of the old Sacred Heart School in Newburgh; waiting to go into the parking lot to receive products being given away by the school district, and the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley.

According to Cassie Sklarz, communications strategist for the district, 16 pallets; over 20 thousand pounds of food were given away by the district. Between 500 to 600 people attended the food distribution.

The school district chose to partner with the food bank after receiving a grant from them for mass food distribution.

“They asked if we were interested in partnering with them,” said Sklarz. “We welcomed the opportunity.”

The district typically receives its products for food distributions from the Hudson Valley Food Pantry. The pantry’s donations are received from supermarkets and grocery stores.

Four minutes away from the Sacred Heart School is food delivery preparation at the First United Methodist Church. These deliveries are spearheaded by Melanie Collins and Michele McKeon.

McKeon works for RECAP, an organization that has a goal of eradicating community poverty. “Our ambition is providing a hand up,” said McKeon.

She said that the organization is capable of being flexible to provide emergency services for disasters like the COVID-19 crisis. The organization realized at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, food insecurity became a bigger problem.

Collins and McKeon came together to organize the food deliveries over a week ago. With the help of the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley and volunteers, “we have been feeding our community,” said McKeon.

The focus has been creating “a place where we don’t say no when people need food,” said McKeon. Deliveries officially started over a week ago.

Directing volunteers left and right last Friday afternoon while pounds of food are transported into the First United Methodist Church, Collins is coordinating the week’s deliveries.

“We are not encouraging anyone to come here to get food,” said Collins. Food is picked up by volunteers and loaded into their cars. After the pickup, volunteers drop off food at designated homes. No contact is made between volunteers and food delivery receivers, only a phone call is made after the food is dropped off. This no-contact rule is to limit potential exposure to COVID-19.

With the recent announcement of the shutdown of Meals on Wheels of Greater Newburgh until April 17, the future of other meal delivery services also remain precarious.

The work of Collins and McKeon has only been going on for almost two weeks now. Since they’ve started, multiple community members have found themselves more secure than before.

“Our microview right now is to get through this disaster, because that’s exactly what it is, and recognize the fact that a lot of people are hungry because they lost their jobs or because they were food insecure in the first place” said McKeon.