This Thanksgiving’s Fresh Produce Distribution to Area Residents Increases to 60,000 Pounds

The Montefiore Einstein Community Affairs team completed another successful Healthy Holiday Fresh Produce Distribution Initiative, with 60,000 pounds of fresh produce distributed to local residents of the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. The team not only increased the amount of produce distributed by 33% this year, it also expanded efforts geographically to all areas in the Montefiore Einstein footprint.

The annual Healthy Holiday Fresh Produce Distribution, just before Thanksgiving, supplements the many local turkey giveaways with fresh produce to help families have healthier Thanksgiving meals. Produce included carrots, onions, greens, yams and root vegetables, such as yuca and plantains.

Five distribution events took place, starting at City University of New York’s Lehman College, where the Montefiore Einstein community affairs team partnered with Chef’s Warehouse, AT&T and the Lehman Student Government Association. They delivered 10,000 pounds of produce to partner organizations, who managed distribution directly to the individuals and families each organization serves. Montefiore Einstein also contributed 325 bags of produce to Lehman College students, who distributed it to 950 families.

Distribution continued at the Northeast Bronx YMCA community center. There, volunteers from Montefiore Einstein and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield packed and distributed 20,000 pounds of produce.

Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital was added to the distribution events for 2022. It partnered with Westchester Produce and Humana to pack and distribute 10,000 pounds of fresh produce.

The distributions at Montefiore Mount Vernon and Montefiore Nyack hospitals were aided by Humana, which helped the community affairs team secure 10,000 pounds of produce for each location. Local high school students also volunteered, demonstrating the next generation’s commitment to community service.

Distribution partners included many other community organizations and elected officials in the Bronx. Here is a full list of the partners and organizations that participated in this event.

Access Supports for Living
AT&T
Bathesda Baptist Church
Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle
BronxWorks
Catholic Charities
Center for Safety & Change
Centro de Amigos (CDA)
Childcare Resources of Rockland
City of New Rochelle Office of the Aging
DoSA
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
Fearless!
Finkelstein Memorial Library
Franklin Family Shelter / West Help
Havestraw Community Center
Humana
Hunts Point Produce Market
Jawonio
Lehman College, CUNY
Masters Helping Hand
MCDCC
MLK Food Pantry
Montefiore Einstein's BOLD Program
Montefiore Einstein's Project Bravo
Montefiore Einstein's Supporting Healthy Relationships
Montefiore Mount Vernon
Montefiore Nyack
Montefiore St. Lukes Cornwall
MSLC Employees
New Rochelle Cares
New Rochelle High School Dept. of Athletics
Newburgh Armory
Newburgh Ministry
Newburgh School District
NFP
Northeast Bronx YMCA
NYC Council Member Kevin Riley
NYC Council Member Oswald Feliz
NYS Assembly Member Carl E. Heastie
NYS Assembly Member George Alvarez
NYS Assembly Member Jonathan Jacobson
NYS Assembly Member Karines Reyes
NYS Assembly Member Latoya Joyner
NYS Assembly Member Nathalia Fernandez
NYS Senator Gustavo Rivera
NYS Senator Jamaal Bailey
NYS Senator James Skoufis
NYS Senator Luis Sepulveda
Project Life
RECAP
Rockland BOCES
Rockland Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse
Rockland Pride
Salvation Army
Shiloh Baptist Church
Soup Angels
SUNY Orange
The Chef's Warehouse
TOUCH - Rockland Against Hunger
U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat
Unique People Services
Westchester Produce
WestCOP