The month of September is “Hunger Action Month” across the United States.
Consequently, it is a perfect time to note, again, one of this year’s most
remarkable local achievements.
In June, area leaders gathered in Elmira to pay tribute to the work of The
Food Bank of the Southern Tier, which Feeding America, the nation’s largest
domestic hunger relief organization, named its “2017 Food Bank of the
Year.”
The Food Bank of the Southern Tier, founded in 1981, is the first-ever New
York State food bank to receive this distinction from Feeding America. It
is the highest designation a food bank can receive -- a remarkable
milestone considering Feeding America’s network of 200 food banks
throughout the nation. But it’s well- earned here in the Southern Tier.
Earlier this year the state Legislature approved a Legislative Resolution I
sponsored with local Assemblyman Chris Friend commemorating the award. It
reads, in part, “The Food Bank of the Year Award honors the most
outstanding food bank in the Feeding America network for going above and
beyond its core mission of providing for the hungry. It also acknowledges
the role the food bank plays in improving the community they serve through
creative, efficient and successful programming, and is a strengthening
force for the entire Feeding America network, as well as exemplifying the
highest standard of operations.”
The Food Bank of the Southern Tier (http://www.foodbankst.org) serves seven
regional counties -- Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins
– covering nearly 4,000 square miles. In 2016 the organization distributed
more than 11.5 million pounds of food and grocery items through
approximately 160 partner agencies, including food pantries, meal programs,
shelters, and after-school and senior programs. Last year the food bank’s
thousands of volunteers contributed over 50,000 hours of their time.
Feeding America distributes food and groceries to more than 46 million
low-income people each year through a network of 200 food banks that serve
60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across the country.
Feeding America first announced the Food Bank of the Year Award at its 2017
Hunger’s Hope Awards conference in late April in San Diego. The Food Bank
of the Southern Tier was recognized “for or having strong and engaged teams
in all areas of their organization.” and for “its innovative practice of
engaging major donors in their strategic planning processes, their
extensive work in studying the issue of agency capacity, and the
effectiveness of their mobile pantry program.”
Feeding America CEO Diana Aviv said, “(Food Bank of the Southern Tier)
President and CEO Natasha Thompson has assembled a terrific staff that we
consider best-in-class. Their programs as well as their efforts to increase
the amount of food and groceries they provide to their community are
exemplary.”
It is a tribute to their commitment, compassion, and daily work to end
hunger for families across the Southern Tier.
Everyone can help. For example, the annual “Fill the Bus” campaign remains
underway through September 23 at Wegman’s stores across the region. The
food bank needs 500 volunteers every week to help sort and repack donations
and prepare them for distribution to area food pantries, churches, youth
programs, and meal kitchens. Food and fund drives, awareness and education
events take place year round. To find out more, visit the website or call
607-796-6061.
Earlier this year, in acknowledging Feeding America’s Food Bank of the Year
designation, Food Bank of the Southern Tier President Natasha Thompson
captured it perfectly when she said, “Winning this award was only possible
because the Food Bank is supported by our incredible community. I’m humbled
every day by the volunteers, agencies, donors and community partners who
help us fulfill our mission. Being honored at the national level only
reinforces our belief that the Southern Tier is very special.”
