Food Bank for Westchester, Mt. Vernon Provide Free Fresh Produce

From Foodbank for Westchester: More than 1,000 people in Mt. Vernon who are hungry or facing food insecurity gathered in downtown Mt. Vernon on Friday, July 14 to receive free, fresh produce as part of a new initiative between Food Bank for Westchester and the City of Mt. Vernon. During the program launch, more than 11,000 lbs. of food was distributed to Mt. Vernon residents.

Mt. Vernon is the second largest community, after Yonkers, that Food Bank for Westchester serves throughout the county. The new Fresh Market program is an additional service the nonprofit organization provides to the city. Other initiatives include food pantries, hot meal programs, shelters, senior grocery distributions and other services like its Back Pack Program and Kraft Mobile Food Pantry.

“In Mt. Vernon alone, we receive nearly 270,000 visits annually for the services we already provide, so there is clearly a need to continue to address hunger in this community,” said Leslie Gordon, President and CEO of Food Bank for Westchester. “We are pleased to partner with the City of Mt. Vernon and Mayor Thomas to tackle this very critical issue in our neighborhoods, while also educating the community on the importance of nutritious eating. We must all work together to close the meal gap and eradicate hunger in Mt. Vernon and throughout Westchester County.”

“People deserve access to healthy food,” said Mt. Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas. “I am proud of this initiative by the City of Mount Vernon and Food Bank of Westchester to provide fresh, nutritious produce to all individuals regardless of income or background. Too often, when families have to choose between food or rent, proper nutrition can become a luxury that they can’t afford. Fruits and vegetables can be costly and can be hard to include in many meals. As someone who grew up without food in the fridge, I understand the pain of sacrifice and the difficulties.”

Thomas added, “As one Mount Vernon family, we don’t want anyone in this city having to make that sacrifice. That’s why I am grateful for the partnership with the Food Bank to make sure Mount Vernon families, seniors, and the disabled are able to access quality nutrition at no cost to their wallet or dignity.”

Included in the produce available during the Fresh Market event were greens, grapes and carrots, as well as other fruits and vegetables that many of the community members were not familiar with, including artichokes, loquats and pluots. To help educate the people during the event, Food Bank for Westchester representatives handed out materials that gave more information about the products, including a recipe on how to properly cook artichokes. Gordon added, “Nutrition education is an effective way to foster healthy eating habits as a lifestyle, even when trying to be cost-effective.”

The Fresh Market program in Mt. Vernon is ongoing and will be open to city residents every other Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information about Food Bank for Westchester’s programs, visit www.foodbankforwestchester.org.

Photo courtesy of Foodbank for Westchester