Dutchess Outreach Farm Stand Makes a Comeback
“Bring your own bag” is all that was asked of those who came to pick up free produce at the Dutchess Outreach Farm Stand. Shoppers lined up along the sides of the room, with carriages trailing behind them and bundles of grocery bags stuffed into their purse. Friends arrived together and those already in line greeted the familiar faces who walked up and headed toward the back. Slowly, everyone made their way along the tables covered in fruits and vegetables.
Volunteers of every age stood on the opposite side of the tables. They greeted people cheerfully as they handed out packages of produce. No volunteer was left without a job. Some rushed to fill reusable with apples while others struggled to cut and rip open the red netted bags filled with potatoes and onions. Three young girls manned the brussels sprout station, and never failed to ask, “Do you like brussels sprout” while handing out a pack of them with a smile.
The farm stand kicked off the year on February 16th at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, which is the indoor location for the winter season. It is set to return outside in May. The farm stand first started in Poughkeepsie back in July 2017 and went on until October. “Over those months, we saw over 900 people come through for food and we distributed more than 23,000 pounds of food,” said Sarah Salem, a Development Associate at Dutchess Outreach. It ran successfully as a result of the 1,000 volunteers who took time out of their days to lend a hand.
It can be difficult for people in the community to find produce for a reasonable cost, so the Dutchess Outreach Farm Stand strives to make it available to anyone in need. The food is made available for free as a result of donations from the regional food bank, farms up north, and supermarkets who seek to donate excess food. Once a month, the donated food is bagged and brought to the farm stand to give to those in the community who stop by. All that is asked of community members is to bring a bag, as a way to encourage people to make less of an impact on the environment and slow down the use of plastic bags.
Dutchess Outreach also allows organizations in the community to set up tables at the farm stand to get the word out about services and upcoming community events. On February 16th, The Institute for Family Health set up a table next to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) tables. Both organizations laid out a variety of informational papers and pamphlets, ranging from healthy recipes to maternal and infant health.
The Dutchess community is strong, as they come together once a month to provide services and help out one another. Community members build each other up through the farm stand, and together they create paths to healthier lives and a better world.
