Boxes of cereal, cans of vegetables, pasta sauce, milk and bags of pet food are the goal of the community food drive scheduled for May 30 in Peekskill. The initiative, organized by state Sen. Pete Harckham along with Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP), will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at Peekskill High School, located at 1072 Elm St. The event will operate under a “Drive-Thru, Drop Off” format.
The event will focus on collecting donations intended for families facing food insecurity in the region, including many older adults served by CHHOP. According to organizers, volunteers will receive the donated items directly from vehicles in order to streamline the process and avoid requiring participants to exit their cars.
The goal of the campaign is to collect as many essential items as possible, including tuna fish, cereal, jelly, canned fruits and vegetables, chili, canned pasta, spaghetti sauce, shelf-stable milk, diapers, personal hygiene products and toilet paper. Pet food will also be accepted. Organizers emphasized that expired products will not be accepted and that no food will be distributed during the event; donations will only be collected.
“Too many of our friends and neighbors are still troubled by economic uncertainty and food insecurity,” Harckham said in the statement released by his office. The senator added that previous food drives have seen broad community participation and that organizers hope to continue building support for residents across the region.
This will be the 21st food drive organized by Harckham since March 2020. According to figures shared by his office, the previous 20 initiatives held in communities including Peekskill, Mount Kisco, Carmel, Ossining, Bedford, Brewster, Pleasantville, Croton-on-Hudson, Somers, Yorktown Heights, Katonah and Mohegan Lake have collected more than 57,000 pounds of food and more than $15,000 in cash donations.
CHHOP, a community organization based in Peekskill and the local partner for the event, regularly works on assistance programs for people in need, including food services and support for vulnerable residents in the area.
People interested in participating may bring donations directly to the parking lot at Peekskill High School during the scheduled hours. For more information, the office of Sen. Pete Harckham provided the phone number 914-241-4600 and the email address [email protected].
