By Amy Modesti
With Thanksgiving this week, volunteers of HACA (Hoosick Area Church Association, Inc.), with additional assistance from Hoosick Falls High School students, were busy last week delivering their non-perishable food items to The First Baptist Church of Hoosick Falls. This was part of the annual event that HACA hosted Saturday, November 17, at the Baptist Church as part of its upcoming Thanksgiving Food Drive.
According to HACA Director, Dianne Hosterman, every month, over 2,000-3,000 pounds (2-3 deliveries) of food from the regional food bank is delivered to HACA, and with the arrival of both Thanksgiving and Christmas, another extra 1,000 pounds of food is distributed to the facility. That food, consisting of vegetables (green beans, yams), fruit/juice (cranberry juice, apple sauce), gravy, boxed and packaged foods (instant potatoes, cereal), turkey, pies, potatoes (donated by Moses Farm), bread (donated by Pepperidge Farm), and other non-perishable foods will be given to at least 200 families that are less fortunate and are in need of assistance during the holiday season.
In anticipation of the packaging of the food on Thursday evening, HACA volunteers, Allan Baker from Baker’s Nurseries, and selected students from Hoosick Falls High School came together Wednesday morning, November 14 to load the Thanksgiving food onto Baker’s truck to take it from HACA to the First Baptist Church where it was later unloaded, sorted, un-packaged, and placed along the tables by HACA volunteers. These volunteers would return to the facility during the later part of the afternoon to place the food items into the boxes that will be handed out Saturday morning, just in time for Thanksgiving.
When times become rough for residents during the holiday season or any time of the year for that matter, Hoosick Falls residents and volunteers of HACA, and they are all volunteers, no paid staff here, unite to make sure that their residents have what they truly need for their home, whether it is food, beverages, housing supplies, food care packages for seniors, and even backpacks full of food for young children to take home to their families during back to school season. HACA is successful in making sure that the 200 plus families are able to receive their annual Thanksgiving meal on time through the continuous support of their volunteers, donations from local establishments such as the regional food pantries, Moses Farms, Pepperidge Farm, Baker’s Nurseries, and the labor assistance of Hoosick Falls High School students.
Be sure to like Hoosick Area Church Association on Facebook to stay informed on upcoming events and opportunities to volunteer and be a part of what HACA provides for Hoosick Falls residents and nearby communities.