HUDSON VALLEY, NY — There are just a few more days to donate to Feeding our Neighbors 2022.

The food drive is run by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York (which covers 10 counties, including  Orange and Sullivan) and ShopRite supermarkets. The goal is to raise food and funds to replenish the larder at Catholic Charities’ food distribution programs.  

Participating ShopRite stores are collecting cash or nonperishable food through Saturday, March 19.

At checkout, shoppers have been asked to make donations of cash or non-perishable food.

This is the eighth year that the two organizations have teamed up to fight food insecurity in the communities they serve. Over that time, more than $560,000 has been raised during the annual two-week campaign. Those funds helped Catholic Charities make nearly two million meals available to hungry neighbors. In addition, many thousands of pounds collected through in-store distributions have been shared directly with area food pantries and soup kitchens.

Hunger can affect people from all walks of life and the pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity for many. Millions of people in America are just one emergency away from hunger, a spokeswoman from Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan and Ulster said.

According to the USDA, 38 million people, including 12 million children, in the U.S. are food insecure. Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and visit their local food banks and other food programs for extra support. This has been on the rise since the start of the pandemic.

While the Feeding Our Neighbors campaign takes place just two weeks each year, the need to feed the hungry lasts all year long, notes Catholic Charities. For more information about making a donation of cash or food, contact your local food pantry or Catholic Charities office. In Sullivan County, visit www.cccsos.org.