Students from St. Peter’s Hospital College of Nursing, some of whom are Veterans themselves, yesterday dropped off hundreds of non-perishable food items to the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center. The food was collected as part of a month-long food drive to help veterans in need.
The VA estimates that since the start of the pandemic, it has served roughly 900 veterans and issued nearly 24,000 items including clothing, food, meal vouchers, toiletries, gift cards, and other comfort items. They inform us that donations have been reduced lately, so Jennifer Moore, a nurse in the Emergency Department, and a Course Chair at St. Peter’s Hospital College of Nursing,enlisted the help of her students to launch the food drive. Over the past month, the team has collected more than 750 non-perishable food items and will likely exceed its goal of 1,000 items.
An event that usually feeds thousands, the Equinox Thanksgiving Community Dinner will still be held even though meals can only be delivered to those in need. The in-person meal itself can’t be held because of current restrictions and safety efforts. Equinox’s Director of Development and Marketing Christina Rajotte said that even with the cancellation of in-person meal prep due to COVID-19, Equinox was committed to feeding the hungry.
Instead of by volunteers, the meals are being prepped by local restaurants and food service providers. Volunteer drivers will pick up meals and provide contactless delivery throughout the Capital Region. Last year the organization provided almost 11 thousand meals to those in need and the demand is expected to be even greater due to the pandemic.
Deliveries *today* are going out of Thanksgiving “peace” pies in Fulton County. Sheriff Richard Giardino, says the pies are a way to provide something to help people in these very chaotic times. Shout out here for the businesses helping with this effort on short notice: Aldi in Johnstown, Hannaford in Gloversville, Price Chopper of Gloversville and Johnstown, Service Deli Provisions of Johnstown and Stewarts Shops of Fulton County. Members of all Divisions of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office are volunteering to distribute the pies and eggnog on their own time.
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