‘The need is great’ – Foodlink adds extra distribution in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 November 2025 at 8:57 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Volunteers and staff at Community Action of Orleans & Genesee were out in the cold for a couple hours on Monday morning for a food distribution. The top photo shows Barb Kurzowski (center), a volunteer from the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

The CCE and Community Action have been helping each other at their food drives.

The distributions in Albion are usually the second Monday each month and include enough food for about 200 households.

Community Action announced there will be an extra distribution this month in Albion starting at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 21. This is at the municipal parking lot at 131 South Platt St. There is no need to register.

Ryan Lasal, director of community programming for Community Action, was among about 15 people helping to fill and deliver boxes of food.

Many of the people showed up two hours before the distribution started.

Foodlink had more food available for the people on Monday, and will be doing the extra distribution on Nov. 21.

“The need is great,” Lasal said.

The Community Action food pantry was nearly bare last week. People in the community donated $5,000 to help restock the pantry. Lasal said he spent $1,200 over the weekend at Costco to get more food for the local pantry.

To donate to Community Action online, visit caoginc.org/donations. To donate to the food pantries, contact Kristina Ettinger, community services manager, at 585-589-5605 x101. To volunteer, email: info@caoginc.org.

Taryn Moyle, program manager of the Child Care Resource Center, carries a box of food for a family.

Other upcoming distributions in Orleans County include:

Orleans Cornell Cooperative Extension, 12690 State Route 31, on Monday, December 1 beginning at 10 a.m. Pre-registration is strongly suggested. Those who pre-register will be assigned timeslots for pickup (12-12:30, 12:30-1, 1-1:30. 1:30-2 p.m.) Pre-register at 585-798-4265. Walk-ins may start at 2 p.m.
Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, 107 North Main St., on Friday, Dec. 5, beginning at 9:30 a.m. (No registration required.)
Community Action at Albion municipal lot at 165 South Platt St. on Monday, Dec. 8, beginning at 9 a.m. (No preregistration required.) Community Action also has the schedule for the first six months of 2026: Jan. 12, Feb. 9, March 9, April 13, May 11 and June 8.