MIDDLETOWN – Regional Economic Community Action Program’s Nutrition Program is seeking donations for the agency’s annual Thanksgiving Drive. The event brings together donors, community groups, volunteers, and staff to organize turkeys, stuffing, gravy, vegetables, and more into Thanksgiving packages to help the community’s neediest residents prepare a holiday dinner. The most needed donations are turkeys, canned gravy, boxed stuffing, canned yams and sweet potatoes, instant potatoes, pie and cake mix, and canned fruit & vegetables. Monetary donations are appreciated and contribute to bulk purchases from local food banks. Volunteers are needed to prepare packages on days leading up and including distribution day on Monday, November 19.
The drive served 324 families last year and volunteer participation is crucial to its success.
“This drive is our food pantry’s biggest event of the year and support from the community helps us make a difference for families right here in our community,” said RECAP’s Coordinator of Human Services Francine Tavares who oversees the Nutrition Program’s food pantry and organizes the drive. “Businesses and groups can help by starting early with food drives of their own.”
Donations are accepted until Friday, November 16 at RECAP’s Nutrition & Advocacy Program at 119 East Main Street in Middletown. Volunteers can sign up by phone 845-421-6213 or email ftavares@recap.org.
About the Program
Staff and volunteers at RECAP’s Nutrition Program work to connect the area’s hungry residents with food and encourage participants to utilize other food resources in the community. An emergency food pantry is available on weekdays as well as a daily supply of breads and cakes. The program hosts and annual Thanksgiving Drive and Strike Out Hunger Bowl-a-thon every fall.
About the Agency
RECAP’s services help people living in poverty in Orange County and the surrounding areas. We work with our community’s most vulnerable populations including seniors, children, veterans, the homeless and the hungry, those living with HIV/AIDS, victims of domestic violence, people battling substance use disorder and anyone struggling to make ends meet.
Visit www.recap.org for information about programs, fundraisers and events.
![](https://hudsonvalleypress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/TEAM-Newburgh.png")
![](https://hudsonvalleypress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/WaldenSavingsBank1.jpg")
