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CORTLANDT, N.Y. The holidays generate many food and toy drives, but some regional food banks say that dollars could help more than cans. Food banks stretch dollars further by buying food in tractor trailer size quantities, while residents often pay full retail. Smaller local food banks, however, depend on the variety that the charity of neighbors can provide.
We get almost 40,000 pounds per year. Even if we were getting money to buy that retail that would be near impossible, said Maria Rykowski, coordinator of the Cortlandt Emergency Food Bank.
We dont want to discourage people from the physical act of conducting a food drive, but the truth is we can stretch the dollar much further with our buying power, said Christina Rohatynskyj, executive director of the Food Bank of Westchester.
The Food Bank of Westchester frequently buys food in 40,000 pound quantities, about the quantity which fills a tractor trailer. The food bank gave away over seven million pounds of food last year. Last year when we did our analysis, when we saw the total amount spent on food acquisition, we were spending about 25 cents a pound. So were bringing something in for 25 cents a pound and at the store it may cost anywhere between 60 or 70, 80 cents a pound, she said.
Much of the food acquisition for the Food Bank of Westchester is coordinated through Feeding America, a nationwide hunger-prevention charity. Feeding America can bring tractor trailers of food donated by manufacturers from across the country, to donate to a specific regional food bank. After manufacturers donate the product, food banks essentially pay for the transportation.
The Food Bank of Westchester delivered 5.4 million meals to Westchester residents last year, and paid less than $5 million for $11.4 million worth of wholesale value food. The Cortlandt Emergency Food Bank services just under 400 families monthly. They serve more clients during the winter months. Specialty items which they do not receive from the Food Bank of Westchester can provide variety for their clients.
There are some things we get they dont have, said Rykowski. For example people sometimes donate nice cereal. If we get cereal from Food Bank of Westchester they dont have a huge variety, but when people donate you do get a different variety of items, too.
The Cortlandt Emergency Food Bank also collects toys during the holiday season. One year, said Shirley Gillis, a Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School teacher had a 50th birthday party, invited 50 people, and everyone had to bring a toy.
We give out toys to our clients kids, and thats not food, but it is food for the heart, said Gillis. The parents love it when theyre able to give something nice to their children.
Gillis said the Cortlandt food bank also depends on donations from the Croton Community Garden and farmer's market contributions for fresh food. My feeling is we depend on both, she said.
Were always appreciative of any food drive, because it teaches the kids a good lesson too, especially around the holidays, said Rykowski.
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