The spring and summer of 2020 have been hard for many of us here in the Hudson Valley. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to record unemployment, disrupted and closed businesses, and illness taking a devastating physical and financial toll on many of our neighbors.
While things are slowly getting better and our region is reopening phase by phase, the effects of the pandemic linger, and will linger for some time.
With the shuttered businesses, job losses, reduced income, health care costs, and everything else, more and more families are finding they don’t always have enough money for basics like food.
According to Feeding America, the largest hunger relief organization in the United States, more than 54 million Americans may experience food insecurity — defined as having limited or uncertain access to adequate food— in 2020. That’s 1 in 6 Americans. Among that 54 million are potentially 18 million children.
In our area, more than 10% of people are facing food insecurity right now.
Hunger relief nonprofits and food banks are seeing their resources stretched to the limit to keep up with the need. During the pandemic, demand at the Hudson Valley Food bank has increased by 50%.
That increase is made up of our neighbors — unemployed, underemployed, low-income, reduced income, people in homeless or domestic violence shelters, senior citizens, kids out of school without access to their school meals. They need help. So Depew Energy has partnered with the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley to help raise money. And you can help!
Depew Energy will donate $1 for every propane BBQ tank exchanged or filled at our office at 5182 Route 9W in Newburgh. So, if you’re having a July 4th cookout, or whenever you need a fresh and full tank for your grill, come get your propane at Depew Energy.
This donation drive will continue until we reach our goal of $10,000.
That $1 provides four meals to those in need. So every refill helps.
One tank at a time, one meal at a time, Depew Energy and our friends at the Food Bank of the Hudson are helping our neighbors get through this challenging time. Come help us meet our goal!