Community Corner
How You Can Help Feed Westchester: Village Food Drive
There is a 22% increase in number of households requesting assistance from food banks in Westchester. Donate non-perishables and drop them off at the Village Hall food drive today and tomorrow morning.
This week, Scarsdale Village participated in a food drive created to help those less fortunate in the Westchester area.
Summer is a critical time of the year for soup kitchens, because food supplies run low, and with requests for assistance increasing by an outstanding 22 percent in the last year, the challenge to provide assistance by the food banks is immense.
"I think it's a sign of the times," said Donna Conkling, the town clerk. "Westchester Municipal Officials Association alerted us to the food drive, and we decided to advertise on Patch and other forms of media to get the word out." she added.
Find out what's happening in Scarsdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
An earlier story reported that the food would be picked up at 10 a.m. tomorrow by the Food Bank for Westchester, but instead it has been picked up already this afternoon. The food bank started in 1988 under the name "Food People Allied To Combat Hunger Inc." and has since distributed over 35 million pounds of food to those in need in Westchester County.
Village Hall hasn't had many food drives in the past.
Find out what's happening in Scarsdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"This is the first food drive we've had since I've been here" said Conkling, but with the unemployment rate what it is and the economy showing little to no signs of getting better, this will most likely be the start to many more drives.
"I would say now that this has started and every municipality is doing it, I think it will be more often." she continued.
The two-day food drive is spear-headed by the Westchester county government, but the trucks will not be picking up the donations from Scarsdale until Friday morning, which means the food drive will be open an additional two days and everyone is urged to help out and donate as much as they can.
If you missed the donation drive, monetary donations can be made on the Food Bank for Westchester's website http://foodbankforwestchester.org/how2help/2.1.1_web_donation_form.pdf
You can also donate your time by becoming a volunteer or by organizing your own food drive.
For more information on the Food Bank for Westchester you can visit www.foodbankforwestchester.com.
