Pop-Up food distributions expected to continue

Federal cuts have hit other food programs for needy

Photos by Tom Rivers: Volunteers and employees from Community Action of Genesee & Orleans get food ready this morning for about 200 households in the monthly pop-up food distribution in Albion. Vehicles start lining up in the municipal parking lot by Dubby’s Tailgate at about 6 a.m. for a distribution that usually starts around 8:30 a.m.

ALBION – Despite cuts by the federal government to emergency food programs, the pop-up food distributions are expected to continue in the near future.

Community Action of Orleans & Genesee led a distribution this morning after a delivery by Foodlink in Rochester. Community Action and volunteers gave out about 200 boxes of food. Some of the cars were in the municipal lot on Platt Street at about 6 a.m. for a distribution that started around 8:30.

“It makes a big difference for them because of the price of groceries and everything else,” said Ricky Standish, facilities manager for Community Action.

He put in packages of applesauce at this morning’s distribution, while others sorted out fruit, vegetables and meat.

Community Action has been doing the monthly distributions for five years now. They started during the early days of the Covid pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently recently announced a $500 million cut to the emergency food system in the country. Foodlink said cancellation of “Commodity Credit Corporation” goods as part of The Emergency Food Assistance Program directly impacts 17 truckloads for its food bank – totaling about $655,000 worth of food and an additional $42,500 in funding.

Julia Tedesco, president and CEO of Foodlink, said the $500 million cut by the USDA comes at a time when food insecurity remains at an all-time high, and impacts more than 150,000 people in the Rochester region.

She said food prices remain high, “forcing families across our region to make impossible choices between purchasing food and other basic needs.”

Katrina Standish, director of Community Services & Reporting for Community Action, and Ricky Standish, facilities manager for the agency, carry boxes of food to put in the back end of a vehicle this morning.

Foodlink manages the pop-up pantries in the Rochester region. Foodlink covers the cost and fundraises for the program, which isn’t specifically tied to government funding, said Elisha Mykins, Rural Programs Coordinator for Foodlink.

“The USDA cuts that were recently announced, however, may impact how much food we can offer to our food bank members, which may have a ripple effect on the types and quantity of products available at PUPs (pop-up pantries),” Mykins said. “Foodlink is working on fundraising and getting funding from other avenues to make up for it so it doesn’t make a big impact on our network.”

The schedule for pop-up pantries in Orleans County through June includes:

Albion at 165 South Platt Street – managed by Community Action

Monday, May 12 at 9 a.m.

Monday, June 16  at 9 a.m.

Lyndonville at 107 North Main St. (Lyndonville Presbyterian Church)

Friday, May 2 at 9:30 a.m.

Friday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m.

Friday, June 6 at 9:30 a.m.

Friday, June 20 at 9:30 a.m.

Orleans Cornell Cooperative Extension at 12690 State Route 31 in Albion (Knowlesville)

Monday, May 5 at 10 a.m.

Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m.