At the Food Bank for Westchester”™s recent gala, Erica Santiago shared a story about a child faced with a choice: An apple or a lollipop.
While it might be surprising to learn that the child chose the apple, it”™s this sort of firsthand experience shared by our agency relations manager that shows when dealing with hunger, even the youngest among us knows the importance of a healthy choice over a frivolous one.
At Food Bank, we aspire to make these healthy choices a little easier.
There were many real-life stories and heartwarming examples highlighted at The Food Bank of Westchester”™s annual “Take Heart Against Hunger” Valentine”™s Day Dinner and Wine Tasting at Abigail Kirsch in Tarrytown. In its 18th year, roughly 340 people attended this year”™s and we raised nearly $300,000.
The evening was special thanks to people like Santiago, our staff, our volunteer committee, supporters, corporate sponsors and our auctioneer, actor Bruce Sabath. It was a great success for the Food Bank and, most importantly, for the people we serve.
While we celebrated in style, it was wonderful to know that so many people ”“ particularly our nine honorees whose service goes back 25 years ”“ remain so engaged in our efforts. It”™s humbling and speaks to the work of all those associated with the Food Bank for Westchester.
This organization had very modest beginnings and grew with the awareness and strength of a small group of Westchester residents trying to provide a solution to the lack of food for so many people in their communities.
We”™ve made tremendous progress ”“ developing effective systems that enable us to acquire and deliver millions of healthy meals each year. And we still face many challenges as the need continues to grow and the demographics of the “food insecure” continue to change. We are finding ways to reach everyone who needs our help; including working people, a huge senior population, unemployed folks with college degrees, and, as Ms. Santiago said in her remarks, “the many people she meets at food pantries who could easily be her brother.”
We now deliver almost 14 tons of food per day to soup kitchens, food pantries, day care centers, residential treatment programs and senior centers in Westchester County to assist our 265 member agencies who do the front line work of feeding people every day.
None of this is possible without a loyal cadre of supporters, many of whom have come to us through their own networks and friends who have volunteered or contributed over the years.
I was particularly touched when I spoke with a man who first came to our gala eight years ago as a guest of Greenfield Stein & Senior, one of our major sponsors.
For the past couple of years, the man has sponsored a table of his own, raising awareness in his community and expanding the Food Bank”™s circle of support.
Over the past 25 years, there have been many stories like these, whether it”™s the second-generation volunteers running soup kitchens and pantries started by their parents, or corporate sponsors like Abigail Kirsch who have been so generous in their time and donations.
We”™re blessed by so many people who are committed to making a difference in Westchester County. And we”™re grateful that we can provide families with a healthy option when they need it most.
Ellen Lynch is the executive director of The Food Bank of Westchester. To learn more, visit foodbankforwestchester.org or call (914) 923-1100.
