Stop & Shop, Feeding Westchester Donate Produce To 700 Families

MOUNT KISCO, NY — Stop & Shop and Feeding Westchester worked together to distribute 27,570 pounds of free, fresh, local produce to almost 700 families on Thursday.

The event at Mount Kisco Elementary School was a collaboration among Stop & Shop, Feeding Westchester and Neighbors Link.

About 200,000 Westchester residents count on Feeding Westchester to provide access to nutritious food. Its organizers think many don't know the extent of food insecurity in the affluent county. They also believe that hunger is a solvable problem in local communities with partners like Stop & Shop and Neighbors Link.

Judy Campisi, interim vice president of development for Feeding Westchester, told The Examiner that since the pandemic began the charity is distributing twice as much food as before.

Based in Mount Kisco, Neighbors Link operates throughout Westchester County to strengthen the community through the integration of immigrants by creating education and volunteer opportunities in partnership with other local organizations.

Stop & Shop donated 10,000 pounds of the produce and volunteers from the supermarket chain were involved in the distribution.

The families walked and drove in to pick up produce including green and yellow squash, green peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, romaine and other leaf lettuces, corn, cabbage, peaches, vine ripe tomatoes and squash.

Feeding Westchester is a Feeding America partner food bank. SEE: Millions Made Hungry By Pandemic Could Include Your Neighbor

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.