The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley is dedicated to alleviating hunger and preventing food waste by ensuring that all products available for donation are distributed judiciously to member agencies, practicing responsible stewardship, and actively participating in the community to increase awareness of hunger and poverty. The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley is a branch of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, which collectively serves more than 900 member agencies in 23 New York State counties.
The Regional Food Bank, located in the Albany area, was created in the early 1980s, and initially transported food to the Hudson Valley from the Capital District. As the need for food and agency membership increased, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley was established in 1990, allowing for increased food donations and improved service to 400 member agencies (including food pantries, homeless shelters, schools, low-income senior residences, and similar entities) in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. Over the years, the Food Bank has outgrown its warehouse space and is currently building a new facility in Orange County to provide a greater variety of food (including more locally grown produce), better access for food donors, and improved service to member and partner agencies.
The pandemic significantly exacerbated the demand for emergency food access, and challenging economic conditions continue to persist due to the impacts of inflation. Prior to the pandemic, the Food Bank supplied an average of 16 million pounds of food annually in the region, which increased to 22 million pounds in 2020; 19 million pounds in 2021; and 20 million pounds in 2022. Food insecurity in the region is not expected to ease in the coming five years as economically disadvantaged seniors, individuals, and families struggle with rising costs for housing, food, and other basic necessities.
In 2022, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley received renewed Dyson Foundation funding which was allocated to 30 member agencies in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster counties and provided approximately 170,000 meals to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in the region.