MONTGOMERY, N.Y. — The Regional Food Bank is asking Hudson Valley residents to help fight hunger around the clock with its first-ever 24-Hour Volunteer-a-Thon.

The event will run from 8 a.m. Friday, September 18 through 8 a.m. Saturday, September 19, with volunteers working two-hour shifts at the food bank’s Hudson Valley Distribution Center in Montgomery. The effort will also take place simultaneously at the organization’s facility in Latham and its farm in Voorheesville.

Barry Lewis, senior public affairs officer for the Regional Food Bank, told Radio Catskill the idea was inspired by similar events organized by food banks elsewhere in the country.

“Three locations, 24 hours, never been done before,” Lewis said.

Volunteers will sort and pack food for distribution to food pantries and other community organizations. Lewis said volunteers are essential to the food bank’s operations.

Last year, roughly 29,000 volunteers contributed more than 74,000 hours of service to the organization, the equivalent of about 35 full-time employees, according to Lewis.

Businesses, civic organizations and student groups are among those expected to participate in the Volunteer-a-Thon. Lewis said some shifts already have waiting lists, although openings remain, particularly during overnight and early-morning hours.
The event comes during Hunger Action Month, as the Regional Food Bank says demand for food assistance continues to grow across the Hudson Valley.

Lewis said nearly 15 percent of Sullivan County residents, or almost 12,000 people, are considered food insecure, meaning they may not always know where their next meal will come from. He said nearly 4,000 children in the county are food insecure.

Last year, the Regional Food Bank distributed more than two million pounds of food in Sullivan County, the equivalent of more than 1.8 million meals. Despite that assistance, Lewis said the county still faces a gap of nearly 423,000 meals.

Lewis also warned that changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, could place additional pressure on food banks and local pantries.

He said an estimated 30,000 people across the 23 counties served by the Regional Food Bank lost access to SNAP benefits earlier this year because of program changes.

“For every one meal we provide, SNAP provides nine,” Lewis said. “There is no possible way we can do the job without SNAP.”

The Regional Food Bank is urging local governments to support a two-year delay in implementing some of the changes. Lewis said Orange County recently approved a resolution supporting such a delay and that the organization is asking Sullivan County lawmakers to do the same.

The food bank also works with schools and community organizations on programs aimed at reaching children, including backpack and meal-kit programs. Lewis said the organization works to distribute food discreetly because children can face stigma when receiving assistance.

Residents who cannot participate in the Volunteer-a-Thon can still volunteer, donate or help at local food pantries. A list of participating organizations and volunteer opportunities is available through the Regional Food Bank’s website.

The organization is also preparing for the holiday season. Lewis said the food bank plans a Thanksgiving food distribution on November 21 at two Sullivan County locations: the Government Center in Monticello and Liberty Elementary School.

Last year, the program distributed approximately 3,400 Thanksgiving meals.

People interested in registering for the 24-Hour Volunteer-a-Thon can visit regionalfoodbank.net and select the volunteer section.