Regional Food Bank Expands Senior Program in Putnam

Residents of Brookside Senior Park in Philipstown line up for a distribution provided by the Regional Food Bank last week. Photo by Kelly Marsh. 

The Regional Food Bank last week launched the expansion of its senior food distribution program in Putnam County, providing 100 meals to residents of Brookside Senior Park, a 55-plus resident-owned mobile home community in Philipstown.

In addition, the organization is delivering monthly meals to Gleneida Court, Hillcrest Apartments, Hughston Commons, Stonecrest Apartments and Mahopac Hills.  

Thanks to a grant from Field Hall Foundation, the food bank will be able to provide monthly shelf-stable groceries and fresh produce to low-income seniors, many who are forced to make choices between buying medications, paying utilities, or purchasing healthy food.

“Here in Putnam County, there are 3,000 seniors who lack access to nutritious food,” said Susan Lintner, Regional Food Bank chief advocacy and engagement officer. “The food bank is looking at making sure we get the right food to the right people in the right place at the right time. And that’s what the senior food delivery program is. We’re so grateful Field Hall Foundation acknowledged this program along with us and realized that this solution of getting food to seniors where they live is a great way of ensuring they stay healthy and are able to thrive.”

Among those helping to distribute more than 2,000 pounds of food to the residents at Brookside Park was Putnam Legislator Nancy Montgomery, and Darlene Brienza, district representative for Congressman Mike Lawler.

“Before the food bank, we had to figure out what we could afford to buy,” said Brookside Park resident Cindy Requa, who helped organize the program. “We can now make reasonable choices about what medications we take and how often we get to take them. There’s no more, ‘I’ll make my insulin last for six weeks instead of one.’ There’s no more, ‘Can I afford my heart medicine, or can I go get a partial prescription?’ This food can save lives.”

Through donations from the USDA and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, residents received beef, chicken, eggs, cheese (regular and vegan) milk (regular, non-dairy, and lactose free), apples, tomatoes, blackberries, cabbage, onions, rice, black beans, pasta, tomato sauce, pancake mix, canned corn, canned pears, peanut butter, cereal, and bread.

The Regional Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that collects donated food from the food industry and distributes it to more than 1,000 partners feeding neighbors in need in 23 counties of northeastern New York. For more information, visit regionalfoodbank.net.