NORTHVILLE — The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York will host a Southern Adirondack Area Food Drop on Wednesday, May 13 at Northville Central School.
“Food insecurity has increased dramatically due to the economic impact of COVID-19,” said MVP Health Care’s Senior Leader for Community Engagement Ellen Sax. “As a result, we are now seeing people in need who have never before required the services of area food pantries. Connecting the food resources of the Regional Food Bank with more distant towns and communities was identified as a significant need.”
Recognition of that need, first brought to her attention by Saratoga County Public Health Planner Meg O’Leary, prompted Sax to reach out to leaders in Edinburg, Mayfield and Northville to coordinate a food drop initiative for the southern Adirondacks.
“We applaud the Regional Food Bank of NENY, along with the tremendous leaders and volunteers in Northville, Mayfield and Edinburg, for their collaboration and willingness to organize and run this mass food drop to support those in need within their communities,” said Sax.
Susan Lintner, Regional Director of Community Impact for the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, said she is “extremely pleased” the organization can provide such a generous supply of produce to families in need in the southern Adirondack area.
The event is a joint effort between three school districts and several nonprofit groups. Northville Central, Mayfield Central and Edinburg Common School Districts are working together to organize the event and assemble the needed 30-plus local volunteers.
“This is the meaning of community and partnership,” said Northville Superintendent Leslie Ford. “During difficult times, we naturally reach out to find ways to share, to work together and to sustain our communities.”
Adds Mayfield Superintendent Chris Harper, “This is a challenging time for many of our families and community members. We are grateful to MVP for sponsoring this event as well as to the Food Bank and the many volunteers who will be on hand to help our families in greatest need.”
Edinburg Superintendent Michelle Ellis summed up the school leaders’ thoughts, saying “In this time of need, it is truly remarkable to see three communities come together, in conjunction with the Food Bank, to serve the local families and aging seniors in need. It has been such a pleasure working alongside both districts to make this day possible. Our endless work and commitment to our families and aging seniors are just one of the many factors that makes us who we are.”
The Southern Adirondack Area Food Drop will provide for identified families in the three school districts and area senior citizens. Event organizers will contact families and seniors to schedule pickup times, and participants will be checked in beginning at 10:30 a.m. the day of the drop. Recipients will be asked to line up in their cars wearing masks and gloves. Street closure and directional signs will help everyone arrive in line in front of the Northville Central School District main entrance on South Third Street.
The event will accommodate social distancing guidelines, and all volunteers and participants will be masked and gloved at all times because, as Ford says “The safety and health of our community is a priority as we share this gift of produce from the Regional Food Bank.”
The Southern Adirondack Area Food Drop will follow similar events in Glens Falls, Corinth and Saratoga Springs, with a later event scheduled in Schuylerville and additional food drops possible in the near future.
