Ulster County, Community Foundations Award $130K to 32 Food Pantries Amid Rising Need

Kingston, N.Y. — Ulster County and the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley are distributing $130,000 to 32 local food pantries and meal programs through the Ulster Food Access Fund, a public-private initiative aimed at shoring up food assistance as federal funding remains uncertain.

County Executive Jen Metzger and CFHV announced the awards this week, saying the grants are designed to help frontline organizations keep pace with growing demand for food assistance across the county. Individual grants range from $1,500 to $10,000 and will support food purchasing, distribution, and core operations.

“Food insecurity is one of the most urgent issues facing our communities, and I am deeply grateful to every donor who stepped up to help following federal cuts to emergency food programs,” Metzger said. “We’re lucky to live in a community that really steps up for those in need, and I want to thank Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley for partnering with us on this life-saving endeavor.”

Grant recipients include Angel Food East in Kingston; Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan and Ulster; Church of St. Mary & St. Andrew in Ellenville; Family Outreach Food Pantry in Highland; Good Neighbor Food Pantry of Woodstock; Happy to Help Food Pantry in Kingston; Helping Hands Food Pantry in Gardiner; the Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration; Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative; Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry at the Wallkill Reformed Church; Olivebridge Food Pantry; Rochester Food Pantry; Rosendale Food Pantry; SUNY New Paltz; the Salvation Army of Greater New York; and Woodstock Meals, among others.

CFHV President and CEO Laura Washington said the fund is intended to respond quickly to a worsening crisis.

“Too many Ulster County residents are struggling to keep nutritious food on the table every day,” Washington said. “This fund is about meeting that need with urgency and dignity. Partnering with Ulster County through the Ulster Food Access Fund is one meaningful way we are helping address this challenge. This collaboration demonstrates what’s possible when local government and philanthropy come together to respond to urgent needs.”

The Ulster Food Access Fund was launched in October 2025 in response to heightened uncertainty around the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and major federal cuts to the emergency food system. It follows an earlier $350,000 county investment made when SNAP benefits were temporarily halted during a federal government shutdown.

The current round of grants is supported by a mix of county funding and private donations, including a combined $20,000 contribution from O’Connor and Partners and the New York State Trial Academy, along with smaller donations from community members.

“With all the financial pressures folks are facing with food insecurity and housing insecurity, we thought it was certainly important that we give back to the community and try to ease those pressures in any way we can,” said Joe O’Connor, CEO and attorney at O’Connor and Partners.

For organizations on the ground, the funding translates directly into expanded capacity.

“Funds from the grant will give our organization resources to accept more homebound, isolated, food-insecure elderly people than we’ve ever been able to accommodate before,” said Gail Bradney, co-director of Woodstock Meals. “Woodstock Meals is here to meet the increasing demand we see all around us. This grant will make a real difference to many hungry, homebound neighbors.”

At the Rochester Food Pantry, Chairperson June Atherton said the grant will help stretch limited resources even further.

“We are grateful for this generous grant that will help Rochester Food Pantry put food on the tables of families who are struggling now more than ever, where no family should have to choose between paying a bill or putting food on the table,” Atherton said. “Based on an analysis of our food costs in 2025, we spend about $0.95 per meal equivalent provided to our clients. Using this metric, the $8,500 grant will provide for almost 9,000 meals.”

County officials and CFHV say they plan to continue monitoring food insecurity trends and exploring opportunities for sustained investment in food access initiatives across Ulster County, as demand for emergency food assistance shows little sign of easing.

Image Credit: Ulster County Executive