Ride United Marks 10,000th Food Delivery In Putnam, Westchester

OSSINING, NY —In response to the coronavirus crisis, the United Way of Westchester and Putnam launched its Ride United Last-Mile home delivery program in July to deliver food and essential goods to vulnerable residents in local communities.

In addition, United Way started running the Westchester Backpack Program in partnership with Feeding Westchester, the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon, the Elmsford school district and the Ossining school district to get fresh produce and packaged food to hundreds of low-income families of school-aged children.

And then there are school lunch program deliveries in Mahopac. And deliveries for food pantry partners in Thornwood and Yonkers.

These are coordinated attempts to reach as many needy people as possible during the pandemic.

"Solving problems sustainably takes partnership, and by working together we can make sure every person gets the support they need in this difficult time," said Tom Gabriel, CEO of United Way of Westchester and Putnam.

Ride United Last-Mile Program

Ride United Last-Mile, for example, represents the final hurdle in getting food to people who must remain at home due to COVID-19 and who experience food insecurity, he said. "United Ways and the 211-network have convened local agencies, food banks and grocery partners to identify available food for people who can't travel and arrange for deliveries by DoorDash ‘Dashers’."

For Ride United, United Way partnered with DoorDash and received generous funding from donors including The Rockefeller Foundation and Safeway Stores’ Nourishing Neighbors program. All that enabled delivery services of food boxes from local food banks, food pantries, and other distribution points to older adults, low-income families, and those who can't leave home, providing meals to those in need. The most common client profiles are:

• Female, senior citizens, living alone;
• High risk, immuno-compromised, populations that are vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, and must quarantine, yet who are food insecure and need access charitable food;
• People who have lost jobs/wages, are without transportation or childcare and who need charitable food

Westchester Backpack Program

United Way of Westchester and Putnam partnered with Feeding Westchester, the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon, the Elmsford school district, and the Ossining school district to provide the Westchester Backpack Program, which delivers supplemental fresh produce and packaged food weekly to hundreds of low-income families of school-aged children that live within a 10-mile delivery radius of Alexander Hamilton High School in Elmsford or the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon, or are signed up directly through the Ossining school district.

"United Way has been a great partner to work with on addressing hunger," Feeding Westchester Programs Services Associate Chris McGregor said. "Together, we’ve provided a wide variety of fresh produce and packaged food to more than 500 households in Westchester regularly. We’re looking forward to continuing the program and seeing how it can grow."

Food Pantry Parcels

United Way delivers parcels from its food pantry partners, such as the Interfaith Emergency Food Pantry of Pleasantville in Thornwood and the YWCA in Yonkers. They also delivered holiday meals donated by the Falafel Taco in Pleasantville to clients of Open Door Medical Center.

"I received a delivery of food from United Way today and words cannot express how thankful I am in so many ways," said Andrea Smith from Yonkers. "To begin with, I am recovering from serious surgery and am stuck at home unable to drive and low on money ... It’s a game-changer. The food is a life-saver."

School Lunch Program

United Way teamed up with the Mahopac school district to deliver its meals from the school lunch program to the students who are learning remotely. The program has grown from 80 meals a day to 180 meals a day since the delivery option began.

"As a single dad of three boys in the middle school and high school, this program has been so helpful in making sure their needs are taken care of while I am at work," Hector Santana of Mahopac told Patch.

For those agencies interested in partnering with United Way’s Ride United Program, visit uwwp.org/doordash. For those interested in participating in the Westchester Backpack Food Program visit uwwp.org/food. Those who need help finding available local resources, including food, can call 211 for more information.

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, estimated that in 2020, more than 50 million Americans would 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.