At the end of each year, the Foodlink distribution center kicks into high gear to organize two massive holiday distributions of produce and protein to our network of members.
Food pantries, shelters and meal programs depend on these items to prepare holiday meals, assemble food baskets, and provide generous and healthy options for their clients. Each distribution, which supplements our existing food bank orders around the holiday season, requires months of planning, and is executed in the middle of both November and December.
Approximately 120 of our food bank members, such as food pantries, meal programs and shelters, sign up to receive these free distributions.
This year, we’re providing whole chickens, onions, potatoes, apples and winter squash … a lot of it. In fact, both distributions will combine to total 453,871 pounds!
Here’s a breakdown of how it all adds up:
NOVEMBER:
Chickens: 9,370
Onions: 27,498 lbs
Potatoes: 48,850 lbs
Apples: 47,080 lbs
Winter Squash: 31,450 lbs
TOTAL LBS: 196,833
DECEMBER:
Chickens: 13,210
Onions: 31,692 lbs.
Potatoes: 54,040 lbs.
Apples: 60,425 lbs.
Winter Squash: 51,700 lbs.
TOTAL LBS: 257,038
GRAND TOTAL: 453,871 lbs
Procurement of December produce has yet to take place, but for November, we worked with the following local farms: Brightly Farms of Hamlin (apples), H.A. Maier’s of Spencerport (squash), Colby Homestead Farms of Spencerport (potatoes), Triple G Farms of Elba (potatoes) and Torrey Farms of Elba (onions).
Our Nutrition Resource Manager also provided recipes to accompany each type of produce we offered! Check them out below …
Thank you to all of our food bank members who help us distribute food to those who need it most during a critical time of year!
