New York State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner visited us at Comfort Food Community (CFC) on Tuesday, September 26th to show her support for our food access efforts! This visit followed Woerner’s second consecutive year of securing $50,000 worth of state funding for CFC.
CFC is known for our food pantries in Greenwich and Cossayuna, but we have been working to expand our impact throughout Warren, Washington, and Saratoga counties to ensure that everyone in the community has access to fresh, nutritious food. The 2021 addition of the Food & Farm Hub supports this goal by allowing for the accumulation and distribution of purchased and donated foods to food access sites like pantries, libraries, schools, and senior centers.
During her visit, Woerner was able to tour the Food & Farm Hub and witness our Food Recovery team organize fresh produce to distribute to 11 libraries in the Southern Adirondack Library System under the Farm to Library program. She also joined CFC Executive Director Amie Collins and CFC Food & Farm Hub Manager Josh Stephani for a visit to Schuylerville Central School District where CFC facilitates the Farm to School program.
Through the Farm to School program, we connect NYS producers with 18 local school districts who strive to feed students fresh and local foods. Thanks to their Food & Farm Hub, we are able to place and receive large orders to meet order minimums at small and NYS producers and then deliver the products directly to schools in manageable quantities. This program helps schools make strides toward meeting the NYS 30% initiative, which offers increased reimbursement for schools that obtain 30% of school lunch products from NYS producers. Our Farm to School program not only helps schools reach this goal, but also helps students have access to more local, fresh, and nutritious food.
Assemblywoman Woerner stated, “I am proud to support Comfort Food Community's important work to ensure that everyone in our community has access to fresh, nutritious food. Their Food & Farm Hub is a fantastic example of how we can work together to support local producers and expand food access for all residents in the area.”
Thanks to the efforts of CFC and our supporters, more individuals and families will be able to access fresh and nutritious food in Warren, Washington, and Saratoga counties.