Building & Realty Institute Raises $20K+ For Feeding Westchester

ARMONK, NY — The Building and Realty Institute of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region recently raised more than $20,000 for Feeding Westchester, the largest hunger relief organization in the county.

The BRI, a trade organization representing 1,800 member businesses in the homebuilding, remodeling, real estate, and multifamily apartment building industries, pledged to match any donation made by its individual members to the fundraiser.

"As with the rest of the nation, Westchester County is experiencing unprecedented levels of economic turmoil,” BRI President Vincent Mutarelli said in an announcement about the fundraising campaign. “Many of our families, our tenants, our employees, and our neighbors find themselves food insecure in the wake of the pandemic and job or income loss, on top of the 1-in-5 residents of Westchester County who experienced food insecurity even before the pandemic hit. We pride ourselves on being community leaders and we knew we had to do something to help those in need."

Tim Foley, BRI’s Executive Director, said the national statistics found 17 million more Americans are struggling with food insecurity today than when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit.

"Although there’s wide variation in how our members’ businesses have recovered, everyone felt the urgency to act," he said. "In partnership with Feeding Westchester, we launched our first-ever online-only matching fund drive. We thought it might take us a month or so to reach our goal. Instead, we reached it in only 10 days!"

Feeding Westchester’s primary mission is to end hunger in Westchester County and is responsible for 95 percent of all donated food distributed throughout Westchester.

Since March, Feeding Westchester has distributed 9.7 million total pounds of food, 361,000 total pounds of produce, 67,000 pounds through its mobile food pantries, and 94,000 pounds through the Fresh Market initiative. The donations from BRI members, matched dollar for dollar by the trade association, will help bolster these efforts.

“It’s a vulnerable time for everyone, but we need to unite and support each other as much as we can,” Mutarelli said. “I’m very thankful that we have so many great members in our organization that are willing to help those who are less fortunate during an uncertain time like this. We are all dealing with our own set of struggles that the pandemic has brought on, but giving back to the community has always been a huge priority for us will continue to be going forward."

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.