Community donations provided more than 2,300 meals for families in need across Westchester and Putnam Counties.
United Way of Westchester and Putnam has wrapped up its third annual Canned Food Drive, and the results are definitely worth celebrating. Held throughout February in honor of National Canned Food Month, this year’s drive collected more than 2,800 pounds of canned food, an increase of more than 600 pounds from last year. In total, the donations are expected to provide more than 2,300 meals for families in need across Westchester and Putnam Counties.
The drive was coordinated in partnership with State Senator Shelley Mayer’s office, Feeding Westchester, the Westchester Library System, the Mid-Hudson Library System, and Wegmans, with local libraries serving as donation sites throughout the region. A special thank you goes to MVP Health Care volunteers, who stepped up to sort and organize all of the collected goods (3,416 total food items!).
With nearly 40% of households in Westchester and Putnam Counties falling within the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold, food insecurity remains a significant challenge in our community. Donations like these go a long way in supporting neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet.
Senator Mayer reflected on the drive’s impact: “It’s a pleasure for my office and so many supporters to work with United Way on every drive. United Way is proactive in our community and willing to go out there and get people to understand that we all can do something, whether it’s taking a few cans out of their pantry or finding diapers that you haven’t used. These are things that really matter right now. A lot of our neighbors are having very challenging times. United Way has taken the lead, and it’s really been a pleasure for my office to work with them. And I want to thank my constituents, many of whom don’t have extra, but they managed to find extra to help their neighbors.”
NYS Senator Shelley Mayer and United Way of Westchester and Putnam CEO Tom Gabriel
“National Canned Food Month provides an important opportunity to highlight the vital role of shelf-stable foods in supporting families facing economic challenges,” added Tom Gabriel, President and CEO of United Way of Westchester and Putnam. “With nearly 40% of households living in poverty or paycheck to paycheck in our community, every can donated makes a meaningful difference for our neighbors.”
The food collected throughout this drive didn’t stay on shelves for long. Below are some of the organizations that came to pick up donations to distribute directly to families across our community, putting these contributions to work right where they are needed most.
