Hudson Valley Remembers 9/11 With Coronavirus Relief Food Drive

Lanning Taliaferro
·3 min read

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The 10th annual '9/11: Serve + Remember' event in the lower Hudson Valley focuses in 2020 on hunger in honor of those whose lives were lost or forever changed by the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.

The special Covid-19 Relief Healthy Food Drive throughout Westchester, Rockland and Putnam is sponsored by Robison Oil. Find a local food drive.

Due to the economic devastation of the coronavirus pandemic, charities across the region are coping with much higher need.

"Our pantries – and volunteers – are stretched thin and efforts like those taken here by Volunteer New York! aim to combat this rising tide," said Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

The food drive is part of the annual "9/11: Serve + Remember" project by Volunteer New York!

"Every volunteer on September 11, 2001 risked something by showing up to help. On this #911DAY we call on all New Yorkers to show up in this same spirit of resilience and community once again ready to give in whatever way they can," Volunteer New York! Executive Director Jeanette Gisbert said. "You don’t have to go it alone either, consider getting your family, office or friends to join you. We’re stronger together."

To register and receive a list of approved/requested healthy donation items click here. Food pantries ask that you only donate items that have been explicitly requested.

"This year as we are limited in how we can volunteer together, we call on all New Yorkers to join us for our most important day of service ever — as we focus the power of community and volunteering on a single goal: fighting food insecurity," Gisbert and Latimer said.

Feeding Westchester has reported that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented 40 percent spike in food insecurity in the community, and some local pantries have seen a 300-900 percent increase in people requesting help feeding themselves and their families.

The following food pantries have joined to support a community-wide Covid-19 relief healthy food drive to help alleviate the need:

WESTCHESTER

  • Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP)/ Fred's Pantry - Peekskill

  • Hope Community Services - New Rochelle

  • Community Food Pantry of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow - Tarrytown

  • Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry - Mount Kisco

  • Don Bosco Community Center - Port Chester

  • United Community Center of Westchester - New Rochelle

  • Thomas H. Slater Center - White Plains

  • Life Progressive Services Group, Inc. - Mt. Vernon

  • Ossining Food Pantry - Ossining

ROCKLAND

  • People to People - Nanuet

PUTNAM

  • Putnam Community Action – Brewster

Additional #911DAY DIY (do it yourself) volunteer opportunities that can be done from home include making protective face masks for those in need, writing letters to troops overseas and making no-sew fleece blankets for children’s hospitals.

DIY project supplies will be provided for free upon registration and available for no-contact pickup starting Sept. 8 on a first come, first served basis and while supplies last.


Patch News Partner/Shutterstock
Patch News Partner/Shutterstock

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

This article originally appeared on the Ossining-Croton-On-Hudson Patch