KINGSTON – Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger and Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) have distributed $130,000 in funding to 32 nonprofit organizations and food assistance providers through the , a collaborative initiative launched to address growing food insecurity amid federal funding uncertainty.
The grants support food pantries, meal programs, and community-based organizations working across the County to ensure residents have consistent access to nutritious food. Funding will help expand food purchasing capacity, strengthen distribution networks, and sustain essential services for individuals and families facing increased need.
“Food insecurity is one of the most urgent issues facing our communities, and I am deeply grateful to every donor who stepped up to help following federal cuts to emergency food programs,” said Metzger. “We’re lucky to live in a community that really steps up for those in need, and I want to thank Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley for partnering with us on this life-saving endeavor.”
Grant recipients include Angel Food East in Kingston; Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan and Ulster; Church of St. Mary & St. Andrew in Ellenville; Family Outreach Food Pantry in Highland; Good Neighbor Food Pantry of Woodstock; Happy to Help Food Pantry in Kingston; Helping Hands Food Pantry in Gardiner; Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration; Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative; Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry at the Wallkill Reformed Church; Olivebridge Food Pantry; Rochester Food Pantry; Rosendale Food Pantry; SUNY New Paltz; the Salvation Army of Greater New York; Woodstock Meals, and more. In total, 32 food pantries received support, with individual awards ranging from $1,500 to $10,000.
The Fund mobilized public-private partnerships between CFHV and the County to provide timely, flexible support. Thanks to the generosity of donors — including a combined $20,000 contribution from O’Connor and Partners and the NYS Trial Academy — along with many heartfelt donations from community members, the fund is delivering essential support to help ensure families have reliable access to food.
“With all the financial pressures folks are facing with food insecurity and housing insecurity, we thought it was certainly important that we give back to the community and try to ease those pressures in any way we can,” said Joe O’Connor, CEO and attorney at O’Connor and Partners.
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