Hunger Project – 2010

UlsterCorps is a member of the Mid-Hudson Coalition to End Hunger, bringing together local workers and volunteers from Community Gardens and Farms, Gleaners, Processors, Storage Facilities, Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens to help make the connections that will feed more people in our communities. Farmers are generously offering to donate fresh produce but need help getting it to those in need. UlsterCorps is responsible for building a corps of volunteers to assist in growing, gleaning, processing and transporting food from local farms to local food pantries and soup kitchens. Farms to Food Pantries is a seasonal fall project in collaboration with Mohonk Consultations, Family of Woodstock, Woodcrest Community, The Queens Galley, Cornell Cooperative Extension, RVGA and other local farms and food pantries.

In 2009 we recruited and organized volunteers for five farm-based events this fall which brought over 4000lbs of fresh apples and corn, 750qts of apples sauce and 50 gallons of cider to 19 local pantries and soup kitchens. In 2010 UlsterCorps coordinated the gleaning & distribution of over 10,000lbs of produce from local farms to Ulster food pantries & soup kitchens. In 2011, we are collaborating with students from the Ulster County BOCES New Visions Health Class to develop a comprehensive “blueprint” illustrating there can be adequate, nutritious food accessible every day, for every man, woman and child in Ulster County.

Current opportunities:
– Family of New Paltz seeks volunteers to coordinate a food drive. More info.
– Volunteer to pick up donations of day-old-bread 1-2 days per week and distribute to local pantries
– The Queens Galley soup kitchen is in need of a volunteer-or two that can pick up a regular donation in Kingston and deliver it to the galley. More info.
– if you can help please call 481-0331.


Want to be notified about upcoming gleanings
and other opportunities to help end hunger in our community?
Sign up for Hunger in the Hudson Valley – Action Alerts

email notifications & calls for volunteer assistance getting food from local farms to people in need.

Thank you to the wonderful volunteers who helped out with
Previous gleanings & generous farmers in 2010:

11/6, Tillson:
20 bushels of apples to Family, Rosendale Food Pantry, Caring Hands, Queens Galley
10/24, Little Dog Orchard, Clintondale:
60 bushels of apples gleaned by SUNY New Paltz students for Make a Difference Day, and pressed into cider, delivered to Pointe of Praise Food Pantry, God Given Bread Soup Kitchen, Queens Galley Soup Kitchen, Rosendale Food Pantry
10/18, Tillson:
10 bushels peppers, 4 bushels winter squash, 1 bushel pumpkin to Peoples Place, CCE, Caring Hands, Queens Galley Soup Kitchen
10/14, Little Dog Orchard, Clintondale:
20 bushels of apples to Chiz’ Heart Street, Peoples Place, God Given Bread Soup Kitchen, Caring Hands, Queens Galley Soup Kitchen
10/12, Phillies Bridge Farm, New Paltz:
2 bushels tomatillos, 3bsh string beans
10/7, Tillson:
4 bushels peppers, 3 bsh eggplant, 6 bsh watermelon to Peoples Place, Queens Galley, Caring Hands Soup Kitchen, Jewish Family Services
10/6, Phillies Bridge:
1.5 bushels string beans, 2 bsh bok choy to Caring Hands Soup Kitchen
9/22, Tillson:
2 bushels peppers, sweet and hot, 2 bushel of carrots, 1 peck of green beans, 6 qts. berries to Family
9/15, Tillson:
1 bushel of corn, 3 lbs green beans, 11 qts of raspberries to Family

9/11, Tillson:
2.5 bushels tomatoes, 1 bsh greenbeans, 1 bsh parsley, 15 pints raspberries, 5 lbs of green & yellow squash to Family, Rosendale Food Pantry
9/8, Tillson:
1 bushel string beans, 2 bsh eggplant, 5bsh watermelon, 2 bsh squash, 5 quarts raspberries to Family
8/31, Tillson:
1.5 bushels string beans, 1 bsh squash, 5 quarts raspberries to Peoples Place
8/19, Tillson:
3 bushels tomatoes to Rosendale Food Pantry and Queens Galley
8/11, Tillson:
5 bushels tomatoes, 3 bsh corn, 1.5 bsh each cucumbers, zucchini, parsley, basil to Good Neighbor Food Pantry (Woodstock), God Given Bread (Saugerties), Family, Queens Galley, People’s Place, Caring Hands Soup Kitchen
7/29, Tillson:
3bsh tomatoes, cabbage, 1bsh broccoli, peppers, basil, 1/2 bsh cucumbers, parsley to Family
7/25, Stone Ridge:
RVGA Corn Gleaning – 749 1lb bags of frozen sweet corn
7/20, Tillson:
10lbs of Tomatoes, Corn, Cucumbers, Plums to Family
7/16, Tillson:
10lbs of Tomatoes, Broccoli, Cabbage & Plums
gleaned + delivered by UlsterCorps to Family of NP
7/8, Tillson:
25lbs Broccoli, 10lbs Zucchini, 35 bags of basil & parsley gleaned + delivered
by UlsterCorps to People’s Place and Caring Hands Soup Kitchens
6/29, Tillson:
30lb Broccoli, 12qts Strawberries, 10lb root veg
gleaned + delivered by UlsterCorps volunteers to Family
6/22, Tillson:
40qts Strawberries gleaned + delivered
by UlsterCorps volunteers to Family, Queens Gallery, Caring Hands
6/17, Tillson:
50qts of Strawberries gleaned + delivered
by UlsterCorps volunteers to Caring Hands + Queens Galley
6/15, Tillson:
100 qts of Strawberries gleaned + delivered by UlsterCorps and
CCE Orange Cty volunteers to pantries & soup kitchens in both counties
including People’s Place, Family, Caring Hands + more

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Please post your ideas, suggestions & volunteer needs
in the comments below, or join our discussion on Facebook.

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Related events, sites & volunteer opportunities

Transportation is the single biggest challenge. Please volunteer to help transport food from farms to food pantries and families. Grantwriters to help with funding, experienced farmers to coordinate & train a youth development farm work force also critical. For more information or to volunteer contact us at ulstercorps@gmail.com or 687-9408.

Google Map of local Food Pantries, Soup Kitchens & CSAs
Please note: this is a work in progress – please contact us if you would like to help with data entry or would like to suggest a specific Farm or Pantry we’ve overlooked (and accept our apologies)

Woodstock Farms to Food Pantries Pickups
Family needs volunteers in Woodstock to do a very quick task on a regular basis that you could easily do in the course of your errands – pick up donations of vegetables, (usually it’s one, or two cartons), and bring them over to Family on Rock City Road. More info or call Sue at 679-2485.

Plant a Row for the Hungry
This program asks vegetable gardeners to devote an extra row in their gardens, or bring their excess produce to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County (CCEUC), located at 10 Westbrook Lane, in Kingston. 340-3478. (DIRT).

Volunteer at a local food pantry or soup kitchen – help them extend their hours, transport more fresh food, prepare additional meals. All need more volunteers to keep up with significantly increased demand.

Support local farms – join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) or shop at local farmers markets. If you are a member of a CSA, offer to transport leftover produce to your local food pantry or soup kitchen. If you have the resources, consider donating a partial share in a CSA to a family in need.

If you have a commercial kitchen, organize/donate a day to help process food so that it can be distributed year-round. If you have a freezer, a donation of storage space would also be greatly appreciated.

Rondout Valley Growers Association
Community Gleaning Days
August, September & October. Volunteers will work in the fields harvesting seconds and other left over produce, we will also have opportunities for people to work in a processing kitchen to prepare food to give to the soup kitchens and food pantries in the area. Volunteers will also be able to take home some produce. info@rondoutvalleygrowers.org or 687-0051.

Read more about the Fall Field Gleaning for the Hungry program developed by the Ulster County Environmental Management Commission and the RVGA over the past several years
http://rvgainternship2009.blogspot.com/2009/08/farm-farm-food-donations-to-local-food.html

Rondout Valley Growers Association, Inc.
The Rondout Valley Growers Association is a non-profit community organization comprised of local farmers, residents, and businesses that are committed to strengthening the region’s family farms and preserving open space for future generations. More info, events & volunteer opportunities. 657-5701.

Eat Local Food
EatLocalFood.org is an organization created and maintained by community volunteers. Together with our community we help to organize, market and/or promote all local-food related events, gatherings, potlucks, farm tours, farm markets, skill-shares, CSAs, farms, businesses and the Local Food Challenge. 255-2749.

Farm to Families Program
The Farm to Families Program provides fresh food and a farm experience to low-income families in Ulster County. In partnership with local agencies, Phillies Bridge Farm Project distributes CSA (community supported agriculture) shares to low-income families, and also hosts a farm visit and cooking demonstrations for participants of the program. 256-9108.

Become a Volunteer Master Gardener!
Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who provide the public with gardening programs and activities that convey horticulture research and experience. Volunteers are selected and trained in all aspects of horticulture from taxonomy and plant pathology to organic gardening. Each Master Gardener must complete an initial 100 hours of research based instruction from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County and will continue to be exposed to the latest developments through a variety of educational training methods and state of the art gardening techniques. Interviews will take place in July and August. Training will begin in September at the CCEUC Education Center in Kingston. Contact Dona at 340-3990.

CCE 4-H Gardening Club
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County’s 4-H Youth Development Program needs caring adults to volunteer for their new after school 4-H Youth Garden Club called “We Dig Plants”. Club members and volunteers will help to plan the garden on the school grounds of George Washington Elementary School in Kingston and participate in hands-on garden learning activities throughout the year. Volunteer leaders do not need to be gardening experts, as 4-H provides curriculum and support. A passion for working with youth is required! For more information on how to apply for 4-H leadership, contact Kristen Wilson, 845-340-3990, or email kew67@cornell.edu.

From the Ground Up
A Student-Centered Wellness Program with its Roots in the Garden. Parents, teachers, students, administrators and staff at Marbletown Elementary School, in Stone Ridge, NY have started an edible garden, and have become involved in composting, recycling, and eliminating plastics and recyclables wherever possible, and we’re initiating a farm-to-school food program. Our goal is to have gardens, healthier food, and an environmental curriculum at all of the Rondout Valley Schools within the next three years. Volunteer garden caretakers needed to Adopt-a-Week throughout the summer; also web, computer and press support. Contact Allyson Levy at aszetc@gmail.com or call 845-687-2235. More info.


Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2009 Gleanings and related initiatives!