As the holidays approach, citizens are reminded how valuable the holiday gift of food can be for those in need. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand helped reinforce that message Friday, while pitching in at Foodlink, during her upstate food bank tour.
The senator assisted more than a dozen volunteers and staff with sorting and packing fresh fruit and vegetable bags.
“There’s a lot of food insecurity in New York and when we have a place like Foodlink, it makes such a difference,” Gillibrand said, “Because, not only are they bringing resources here, but they have a commercial kitchen and they're cooking for some of our after-school meals programs.”
Between November and December more than 17,000 of the bags filled will be assembled and distributed between 100 partner emergency food agencies.
Executive Director Julia Tedesco said last year, Foodlink distributed nearly 19 million pounds of food to underserved communities.
“Hunger is a year-round issue in our region, and in the summer months is when it spikes,” Tedesco said, “We rely on 16,000 volunteers all year long to make sure that there's not a single night a child goes to bed hungry in our service area.”
According to Feeding America, a national hunger relief organization, nearly 40 percent of clients served by Foodlink are children.
Gillibrand said the number of donations pouring in at Foodlink is a testament to the heart of Rochestarians.
“We have amazing people and companies here in Rochester that go the extra mile.”
