The Need Still Exists
Food Provided for Hundreds Of Families
Photo and Story by Steve Bradley
Last August a multitude of families from around Hoosick Falls made their way to a Mass Food Giveaway in the parking lot of the Hoosick Falls Central School. The event was put on by Catholic Charities of the Albany Diocese in cooperation with the Food Bank of Northeastern New York, and many other regional and local organizations. The event was followed up by another giveaway in early November at Grafton Lakes State Park, with a similar turnout.
On Wednesday, January 6, the food giveaway returned to the HFCS parking lot and as one can see from the picture, again there was quite a need for the meat, fresh vegetables, canned goods and other staples. Volunteers from all around the area, many supplied by the Hoosick Area Churches Association began loading vehicles at noon, although cars were lined well before the start time. According to Wesley Parrott of Catholic Charities, some of the funding for these events comes from a grant that is used to purchase food from local farmers, helping them out as well.
These food giveaways started two years ago in the Amsterdam area, and are now held at least weekly all around the Capital Region. In fact, there are three more scheduled in the month of January alone in Rensselaer County.