County Announces Distribution Plan for $2 Million in Emergency Food Assistance

Regional Food Bank Will Distribute Food to Pantries, Host SNAP Food Drives Through November

On November 1^st, SNAP benefits lapsed due to the ongoing federal shutdown which has left over 19,000 Rockland households, comprised of 54,562 children and adults, facing immediate food insecurity.

The Regional Food Bank will utilize the money in a two-phase plan to distribute food to Rockland’s 43 local food agency partners through a structured, phased, and data-based distribution model, in addition to a variation of food drives for residents across the County.

“This is a coordinated, strategic, and immediate response,” said County Executive Ed Day. “This plan ensures food reaches the families most affected, supports our pantries, and strengthens the entire emergency food system across Rockland.”

“County Executive Ed Day and his team have planned the best way to get food to people’s tables,” said Rockland County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. “Half of the $2 million passed this week by the Legislature and authorized by the County Executive will be spent immediately by contract with the Regional Food Bank, allowing our local food pantries to obtain more food in this time of need.  This stop-gap measure will hopefully get us through the Federal government shutdown.”

The first phase runs November 6^th through November 14^th utilizing a total of $1 million. This includes $700,000 allocated to 43 local pantry partners as grants under accounts at the Regional Food Bank and the remaining $300,000 will be utilized for distribution events countywide operated by the Regional Food Bank.

“This two-phase approach will help ensure that if needed, we can assist local food pantries through the end of the month,” said Rockland County Legislature Minority Chairman Lon M. Hofstein. “I'm glad that we have the capabilities to help during this time of need. I'm hopeful the federal government will reopen in the near future.”

“We know how scary it can be not to know where your next meal is coming from,” said Tom Nardacci, CEO Regional Food Bank, adding that 42 million Americans are now without SNAP benefits. “We want our neighbors to know we’re here to help. We will do our best to meet the need and are so grateful for the outpouring of support from Rockland County officials and individuals in the communities we serve for coming together to help our neighbors access the food they need at this time of unparalleled need.”

The first event, a Drive-thru Distribution, was held Thursday November 6^th at Clover Stadium in Pomona, with 20,000 pounds of food given out, enough to serve approximately 375 households.

Multiple Regional Food Bank distribution events are being planned for the next week and will be announced shortly.

The Regional Food Bank is also in search of volunteers to help with the distribution events. For more information click here. The list of volunteer opportunities will be updated as more events are scheduled.

If the SNAP crisis continues, a second Phase will be activated from November 15^th through November 30^th and will follow the same structure of increasing supply and additional distribution.

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