By: Kathy Purdy, Founder & CEO of Hillside Food Outreach

Food insecurity across Westchester — and the U.S. more broadly — is at its highest since the 2008 financial crisis. A recent report by the Office of the New York State Comptroller revealed that food insecurity in New York continues to grow, with one in nine residents currently unable to acquire the food they need.

This trend is tied to a number of challenges. Westchester residents, like many Americans, are reeling from inflation. Grocery prices are high, especially for nutritious foods. Energy, health care, and housing expenses have also skyrocketed. Meanwhile, pandemic-era programs that mitigated food insecurity — like increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and free school meals for children — are disappearing.

At Hillside Food Outreach, we see the impacts of this every day. Headquartered in Mount Kisco, our nonprofit is serving more and more people in need of food assistance. We currently have a waitlist that exceeds 100 households. And we know firsthand that food insecurity rarely exists alone — it often leads to loneliness, fear, and, for many, a profound sense of hopelessness.

Right now, Hillside provides high quality, nutrient-dense foods to nearly 1,000 households and over 2,000 individuals each month across Westchester, Putnam, and Fairfield Counties. Many of the people we work with are elderly residents who find it difficult to travel and carry grocery bags. Others are housebound due to sickness or disability, or have health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension that require nutritious diets. More than one-quarter of our clients are children.

So, what can Westchester residents do to help fight food insecurity? Fortunately, there are multiple ways community members can get involved. Volunteers are the heart of our organization, and we can always use more — whether at Hillside, or another local pantry in your neighborhood. Food pantry volunteers donate time and food to the cause. Many people believe all the food we give out is donated, which isn’t the case.

At Hillside, each of our more than 350 volunteers deliver food to up to six households. We ensure volunteers work with the same clients, allowing them to forge trust and a long-term relationship. We’ve had many cases over the years where volunteers stepped in and made a huge difference in a client’s life. For example, one Hillside client was an elderly, disabled veteran living alone. He was suffering from hunger and loneliness. But he and his volunteer quickly bonded, and the volunteer now invites the veteran to his home for dinner on the holidays — and even takes him out to dinner on his birthday. Another volunteer purchased new children’s shoes for a single mother of three with limited resources.

In addition to donating food and volunteering time, community members can also raise the urgent issues of food insecurity with their elected officials. We can push local lawmakers to better support people struggling with food insecurity through public policy — and by encouraging better access to healthy food, like fresh produce and whole grain products.

Lessening food insecurity is challenging work, but it’s immensely rewarding. When our volunteers hear from a client that our food is improving their health and quality of life, it’s incredibly heartening. And the impact we have is significant: In a recent survey, we learned that 98 percent of clients feel more food-secure since receiving grocery deliveries; and 97 percent of parents reported that their children are eating more fruits and vegetables.

If you’re looking to make a difference, consider a one-time donation or join our Hunger Heroes program with a monthly contribution. Those interested can also volunteer as little as two hours per month to deliver food to those in need. To learn more, visit us online at www.hillsidefoodoutreach.org.

Kathy Purdy is Founder & CEO of Hillside Food Outreach, a nonprofit that delivers high-quality, nutritious food to thousands of low-income families, seniors, and the chronically ill across Westchester, Putnam, and Fairfield Counties, completely free of charge.

This article was originally published by Halston Media on July 26, 2024 and can be viewed here.