Distributions Feed and Educate Local Families

MIDDLETOWN – The Middletown Enlarged City School District, in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County’s GleanMobile and SNAP-Ed New York program, hosted two free summer produce box distributions, benefitting hundreds of families in the Middletown community. These events, aimed at providing fresh local produce and healthy recipe ideas, were a tremendous success.

The first distribution took place on Thursday, July 11th, at Maple Hill Elementary School, where 300 boxes of fresh produce were distributed within just 38 minutes. Each box included a variety of fruits and vegetables such as apples, brussels sprouts, carrots, and zucchini. Much of the produce was rescued by volunteers through CCE Orange’s GleanMobile and donated by local Orange County farms, including Sycamore Farms and Hudson Valley Farm Hub. To support families in preparing healthy meals, SNAP-Ed New York provided recipes in both English and Spanish, available in the boxes and on the district’s website. Popular recipes like Fiesta Rice Salad and Crunchy Berry Parfait offered quick and affordable meal options.

A second distribution was held on Thursday, August 22nd, at William Carter Elementary School. To better serve the community, the event was divided into two sessions, one in the morning and one in the evening, distributing 150 boxes at each. The Regional Food Bank contributed 100 boxes of produce, including community-requested items like blueberries, cucumbers, and corn. Additionally, local farms, facilitated by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s GleanMobile, provided fresh cantaloupe, peaches, and heirloom tomatoes. Walden Savings Bank joined as a partner, sponsoring produce boxes for 25 additional families.

“We are committed to ensuring that all our students have access to nutritious food, especially during the summer months when school is out,” said Heidi Bishop, Assistant Director of Food Service for Middletown Enlarged City School District. “These produce distributions are a wonderful way to support our families in addition to the free summer meal locations, which can be found on our district website and Facebook page.”

SNAP-Ed New York continued to provide culturally relevant recipes and tips for saving time and money while eating healthy throughout the summer. Information was also provided in the boxes on a free texting program, offering nutrition and wellness resources to families within the Middletown Enlarged City School District.

“Orange County offers an abundance of fresh seasonal produce this time of year,” said Erica Dahl, SNAP-Ed New York Special Projects Coordinator. “By connecting Middletown families not just with these fruits and vegetables, but also with ideas for how to cook and use them, we help ensure that kids are actually enjoying and benefiting from these nutritious foods. After all, nutrition only counts when it’s consumed.”

For more information about SNAP-Ed New York in the Hudson Valley, call 845-344-1234 or email snap-ed-hv@cornell.edu. You can also find recipes and tips to save time, save money, and eat healthy at www.snapedny.org.