Dutchess Outreach Celebrates 50 Years in Service!
February 28, 2024
[POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK]: Dutchess Outreach is excited to be celebrating 50 years of service to the Dutchess Community!
Dutchess Outreach began in 1974 and was officially incorporated in 1981. What started as a small but necessary pantry has grown into a self-choice Food Pantry that averages 1,500 monthly visits. Our Lunch Box serves hundreds of hot meals daily. We are now the largest food security organization in Dutchess County, helping over 10,000 people annually.
The organization has recently begun several initiatives, stressing the importance of not just the quantity of food but the quality of that food. This includes offering less processed food and including a variety for religious and dietary restrictions.
“Dutchess Outreach is not only looking to expand its reach of emergency food support,” says Executive Director Renee S. (Fillette) Miccio. “Rather, we believe that with a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach, we can dramatically decrease food insecurity in Dutchess County while strengthening our local food system so everyone can thrive.”
In the last year alone, Dutchess Outreach has partnered with Nuvance Health to roll out the Food as Medicine initiative to provide the appropriate food to people with specific chronic diseases to help improve symptoms of heart disease and diabetes.
With the help of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, Dutchess Outreach has hired a Retail Recovery Coordinator to work with local supermarkets and rescue 20,000 pounds of food each month, dramatically reducing food waste in our community.
Beyond the Poughkeepsie area, Dutchess Outreach has partnered with Sun River Health at their Amenia location with a mobile pantry offering thousands of pounds of fresh produce and rescued food.
Our advocacy efforts are also increasing, as Dutchess Outreach has partnered with Alliance for a Hunger-Free New York and is working to spearhead a local coalition of Food Pantries. This work, in part, kicked off with a Food Pantry convening on January 22.
In 50 years, the need for Dutchess Outreach’s services has only grown. In New York State, food insecurity has increased by 85% since 2022, compared with an increase of 35% nationwide. In New York, 25% of adults have experienced food insecurity. There is a $15,912,000 meal gap in Dutchess County, and 25,540 neighbors in Dutchess County are facing food insecurity. Dutchess Outreach continues to work toward closing that gap with a team of twelve staff, thousands of volunteers, and the generosity of sponsors, donors, and foundations.
Along with our Pantry and Lunch Box community meal program, our programs now include:
Farm Stand: working with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, we offer thousands of pounds of fresh produce one Friday a month year-round.
Acts of Kindness: Free housewares and essentials
Children’s Clothing Closet: Free, gently used or new clothing for children
Our annual coat drive collects thousands of coats for those who need them in the colder months. The emergency assistance program includes support with prescriptions, rent, and utilities.
A 50th celebration event at the Grandview is set for September 19, 2024. Dutchess Outreach commemorates 50 years throughout 2024 with a social media campaign to share 50 facts about the organization, its history, and its vision for the future. A special meal through our Lunch Box Community Meal program and the Lunch Box’s dedication ceremony are also being planned.
To learn more about Dutchess Outreach or to donate, please visit dutchessoutreach.org