MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. — For the past 16 years, the mission of Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County’s Gleaning Program has been to deliver donated fresh foods to community organizations, food pantries, emergency shelters and soup kitchens. Many of these organizations face barriers to providing fresh foods and the Gleaning Program has filled that gap with local food delivered with the help of their own refrigerated “Gleanmobile” and volunteers.
However, the COVID-19 Pandemic has created more barriers and struggles for most, and the population of individuals in need of food assistance is growing. Organizations that provide food to people facing food insecurity in Orange County have new needs and the Gleaning Team could help. It was important to Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County to quickly and safely adapt their food distribution program to continue to be able to deliver food now more than ever.
Stiles Najac, Food Security Community Liaison at CCEOC, adapted the gleaning program to enlist volunteers to deliver bags of food directly to individuals and families sheltering at home. On Thursday, April 3rd she and two other CCEOC staff members completed the first deliveries during this time. Stiles, Rachel Moody and Daniel Foss met at the CCEOC Office in Middletown, put on their masks and gloves, and then split up to make the deliveries safely. Their masks were made by DeAnna Sardella-Matthews, Orange County 4-H Resource Educator. CCEOC’S 4-H Team is currently working on making and distributing masks to local essential workers.
Food was donated by TOUCH (Together Our Unity Can Heal, Inc.) which is an agency serving Rockland and Orange counties. They put together 16 bags of food for the Gleaning Team to deliver. These packages of food were designed for any kitchen, including ones that only have access to hot plates.
Deliveries were made to individuals who are currently in need and sheltering at home throughout Orange County. The individuals were referred by agencies including Access Supports for Living, RECAP, Salvation Army of Middletown, United Healthcare, St. Paul’s Mission, and TOUCH. Each of these agencies are working tirelessly to get food to people who are in need. Without them, the Gleaning Program would not be able to do what it does.
Volunteers are the second key to supporting the Gleaning Process. Once requests for deliveries come in through various agencies, Stiles develops a plan to get the food safely to each individual. If you are interested in volunteering during the COVID-19 Pandemic, please contact Orange County Government at 845-291-4000. If you are interested in assisting with field gleaning (collecting food from farms) please send your information to Stiles directly at srn28@cornell.edu. Once safe gleaning procedures are in place, Stiles will plan for them.
It is Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County’s current mission to provide up to date reliable information and to continue serving our communities. Our office in Middletown remains closed but we are still here for you. Please call 845-344-1234 or email orange@cornell.edu with any questions or concerns we may be able to provide assistance with. Check our website www.CCEOrangeCounty.org/COVID-19 for resources that may help you, your family and others during this time.
Cornell Cooperative Extension and its partnerships provide programs for Orange County residents on youth and family development; nutrition, health, and food safety; community and economic vitality; and agricultural sustainability through Cornell based research. Committed to Orange County, we design programs to meet local needs to enable people to improve their lives and communities. For more information call Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County at 845-344-1234 or visit our website at www.cceorangecounty.org.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County