Massive Food Giveaway Planned For Hoosick Falls And Surrounding Areas
by Doug La Rocque
The program will take place on Wednesday, August 26 at the Hoosick Falls Central School starting at 10 am. The program is open to anyone in need from Eastern and Central Rensselaer County, Southern Washington County and Western New England. Available will be a number of fresh vegetables, frozen chicken and pork, milk, eggs, bread and Girl Scout Cookies.
The program is run by the Catholic Charities Mobile Outreach Vehicle Extension in conjunction with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and the Capital District Area Labor Federation, which has already run several such giveaways, most recently in Lansingburgh and Albany. At Hoosick Falls they are joined by the Hoosick Falls Teachers Association, the Hoosick Area Churches Association and the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office.
The plan, according to Mark Emanation of the Labor Federation, is to set up four drive up stations, where the food will be placed in your vehicle in a contactless manner. All CDC guidelines will also be in effect. The Labor Federation has been able to raise about $60,000 to help fund the food giveaway efforts. This is the first time the giveaway has come to this portion of the county, and Mr. Emanation says if successful, they would be open to repeating the program.
As with any undertaking of this size, volunteers are needed to help make it work. If interested, please contact any of the participating agencies and be prepared to show up by 8:15 am.