STAR Project Uses Bulletin Boards to Feed Newburgh’s Hungry
by Mike Cardano and Gabriella Pryor
It is no secret that like everywhere else, the Hudson Valley has its fair share of issues where the answer for solving them is not always the most transparent. Hunger surrounding lower-income households are omnipresent in the community. With efforts from a variety of places to aid this issue, an organization called Impact Inc. developed a program that takes the initiative to end hunger a step further with a unique program, The Star Project which sprouted from an unorthodox idea.
The founder, President, and Executive Directions of the organization Impact INC. Damian DePauw alongside Edwin Martinez of giveChain, founded The Star Project with the goal of creating a step for a more positive direction for the city of Newburgh. This goal embodies addressing the omnipresent problems in the area such as homelessness, food insecurity, and substance use disorders, all centered on the proper placement of bulletin boards at local restaurants, pizza parlors, and delis.
The program works simply. With the primary idea behind the action being revolved around the community taking on prevalent issues as a team versus individuals facing them on their own, the bulletin board placements serve as an opportunity for those seeking aid along with those ready to give, a place to do just that. The cycle of positivity begins when the bulletin board is placed in said deli or restaurant and those coming in to purchase food products of their own, have the option to buy an additional product for someone who doesn’t have the necessary means for food themselves. When a person decides to purchase said food item for someone else they write a sticky note with a personalized message to post on the bulletin board where someone in need can come in, pick a sticky note off the board, and trade it in for the food item purchased.
Founder of Impact INC. and idealist behind The Star Project, Damian DePauw, stated that designs for each program center around the message that, “Everyone has skills and abilities that can be used for good, and everyone has something that has affected them that they would like to do something about. We all have some cause that is dear to us. Most people just don’t know how they can help a cause that they believe in.”
One of the most unique things about this project is that it costs establishments nothing to participate yet provides an outlet for those wanting to give to others in the community, a place to do so. The initiative has a “pay it forward” intent that allows people to take action and local businesses to supply the meals to. In addition to the meal and service, the participating locations have agreed to keep printed materials with information to seeking out more resources for forms of aid to those to see when they come in seeking out aid.
Newburgh was chosen as the city to launch this program due to the surplus of need regarding hunger specifically found in the community. Some of the local restaurants and eateries that have chosen to participate in The Star Project are Blacc Vanilla, Déjà Brew Cafe & Art Gallery, Crown Fried Chicken, Kennedy Fried Chicken, Rockland Bakery of Newburgh, Pete’s Hot Dog Stand, Tony’s Newburgh Lunch and Brickstreet Delicatessen.
Allyson Gillespie, Co-Manager of Tony’s Newburgh Lunch, had great things to say about the program. “We try to do our best to get more people to learn about it, not many people know what it actually is,” she said. “I love being a part of it, something special for those on the streets.” Gillespie thought it was important for Tony’s to participate in something like the Star Project.
More information on how to get involved through volunteering or local business participation can be found on The Star Project page under Impact INC, along with the organization’s other projects such as Together We Can and more.
