BROOME CO., N.Y. — For a second year, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County, CHOW, and Broome Tioga BOCES are teaming up to provide holidays meals for local families this holiday season. The Holiday Giving Box program will raise funds from November 1st until the 10th of December with a goal of $7,500 raised.
Starting today, the Holiday Giving Box donation web page is live; people can visit https://justgiving.com/campaign/hgb21 to donate. A donation of $50 will provide one entire meal, but donations of any amount will be accepted and are appreciated. The boxes will include a turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sparkling cider, a pie, all provided by CHOW. Local produce including potatoes, carrots, beets and squash will be purchased from local farmers and will also be included in the meals. They will be distributed during Christmas week.
Information on the Holiday Giving Box initiative will be available at the Broome County Regional Farmers Market during market hours. Monetary donations will also be accepted at the Market.
Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo said, “I am happy to partner with CCE, CHOW and BTBOCES for a second year to help provide Holiday Giving Boxes to local families. Since the pandemic began, we have seen a marked increase in the need for assistance. We hope these holiday meals, that include ingredients grown locally, will provide cheer to those who receive one.”
Les Aylesworth, Director of CHOW said, “The holidays are supposed to be a celebration of light, but for some in our community there is a lot of darkness. And this is why CHOW is glad to partner with Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, Cornell Cooperative Extension, BOCES and the Broome Farmer’s Market – to bring a little light and to make their holidays a little brighter. These aren’t just boxes of food; they are boxes of light!”
“The Holiday Giving Box provides a real opportunity for our community to help to address food insecurity in a meaningful way” said Beth Robert, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County. “We are humbled to partner with Assemblywoman Lupardo, CHOW and Rock on Cafe to assist in providing a holiday meal that includes local farm fresh products from area farmers who sell at the Broome County Regional Farmers Market”
Annie Hudock, Senior Food Service Director at Broome Tioga BOCES, “The holiday giving boxes support so many families within our area districts. These boxes provide a delicious holiday meal complete with local sourced food to families in need. We want to make sure everyone in our community has access to a warm meal this holiday season.”
–The Office of Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo