Volunteers To Distribute Food In Northern Westchester Friday

POUND RIDGE, NY — A group of volunteers will be assembling a week's worth of meals for 150 Westchester families who have food insecurity. The bagging of groceries will take place at The Market at Pound Ridge Square in the town of Pound Ridge.

According to organizers the food will then be delivered to the local Catholic Charities of New York parish — Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Elmsford.

Volunteers from the Pace Women's Justice Center, the Westchester Medical Center and the community are expected to help out.

Pound Ridge Police Chief David Ryan, who helped coordinate the event, said he has never seen the dire need for food in northern Westchester as it has been since the new coronavirus shut down the economy.

He's been speaking to area food banks and said they can't keep food on their shelves.

"In a county like Westchester," Ryan said, "it's incredible that a child can go to bed hungry."

He said he worked with Billy Fortin, the owner of The Market at Pound Ridge Square to see what his vendors could provide. The families will be getting enough food for breakfast for a week and three dinners, Ryan said.

He's hoping that people hearing about what they are doing will inspire them to help out or give a donation.

Ryan said he's not really into guilting people into doing anything, but, while he's happy that restaurants are open, if people can spend $200 for a meal, they can give a donation to a food bank.

He said most food banks will tell potential donors what food and other items they need the most. And cash donations are always helpful.

But "when the food runs out, it runs out," Ryan said.

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.