Since 2017, FeedHV has been working towards directing excess food from generous donors to food assistance agencies which serve those in need. The organization is currently looking for volunteer drivers to continue to expand their reach throughout the Hudson Valley.
Administered by Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation (HVADC) and operating in seven counties in New York State, FeedHV is the Hudson Valley’s food rescue and harvesting network dedicated to meeting the needs of neighbors while mitigating the impacts of food waste. With one in ten Americans experiencing hunger and nearly 40 percent of all food in the United States wasted – around 20 pounds of food per month, per person, FeedHV needs additional volunteers to help fulfill its mission. In this year alone, FeedHV has saved more than 65,000 pounds of food that would have otherwise gone to waste.
Spanning Dutchess, Columbia, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan and Ulster counties in the Hudson Valley, the FeedHV community food network includes more than 300 volunteers, approximately 130 donor organizations and more than 100 receiving agencies. Donors range from restaurants, farms and food makers to caterers, event venues and educational institutions.
“HVADC is rooted in supporting community development and food justice and we appreciate the people who take action to support those in need,” said HVADC Deputy Director Mary Ann Johnson. “The FeedHV program is built on volunteers who not only pick up and deliver a food run, but also problem solve and interact with community members.”
This summer, FeedHV is securing an increasing amount of donations and needs additional help. FeedHV volunteers are essential to reducing food waste and insecurity in the region. The volunteer crew transports food donations to recipient agencies on their own schedule, enabled by the ChowMatch app, which matches food donors with food assistance programs. All individuals aged 18 and over with reliable transportation and auto insurance can volunteer with FeedHV.
To learn more about FeedHV and its volunteer programs, visit www.feedhv.org. To sign up as a volunteer, visit tinyurl.com/feedhvvolunteer.
In addition to volunteer drivers, the organization is also seeking food donors and food recipients in the Hudson Valley region. To become a food donor, visit tinyurl.com/feedhvdonor. To sign up as a food recipient, visit tinyurl.com/feedhvrecipient. To make a monetary donation to FeedHV, visit www.feedhv.org/donate-today.
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About FeedHV
Since 2017, FeedHV has been operating as a regional food rescue and harvesting network in New York’s Hudson Valley, linking donors of prepared, unserved food and fresh produce to nonprofits with food assistance programs. The program is administered by Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation (HVADC). For additional information, visit www.feedhv.org or send an email to info@feedhv.org.
About Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation
The Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corp (HVADC) is the region’s sole economic development agency with a specific focus on the viability of the agricultural economy in the Hudson Valley. It assists both new and existing agri-businesses such as farms, food businesses and food distributors, by providing technical and business consultation, access to capital, and resources. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the non-profit promotes balanced, market-based solutions that lead to enhanced agricultural entrepreneurship, rural economic growth, diversity inclusion, and community enhancement. For more information, please visit www.hvadc.org.
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