Since it opened in the fall of 2022, the bright yellow enclosure at Town Hall known as the Taghkanic Community Fridge has been helping members of our community. So how does it work?
Each week, a dedicated group of shoppers stock the shelves with milk, eggs, bread, butter, cheese, and a variety of other foods, with support from the Shared Plate Funding Circle (funded by Lil' Deb's Oasis, Kitty's and Gaskins) a grant from Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and private donations. Additionally …
The hardworking volunteers of the Columbia County Recovery Kitchen cook and deliver healthy prepared meals ready to heat and eat.
Long Table Harvest makes weekly produce drops.
Hudson Salvation Army donates surplus food.
Local merchants chip in, including Broad Street Bagels of Kinderhook.
During the growing season, several farms including Ironwood Farm and Green Acres provide fresh produce.
Packaged foods dropped off by generous individuals.
“The Fridge and Pantry is a testament to how well a community’s citizens and businesses can come together to help each other,” says Betsy Albert, a member of the Town Board who led the project’s development and has managed it ever since.
“We’re always looking for volunteers, as well as new food suppliers.” If you have a busy chicken coop, or own a dairy and have surplus, you can contact Betsy to find out how you can join the effort to fight food insecurity in our area.
If you’re a Fridge and Pantry patron, fridge volunteers encourage you to speak up about what you’d like to see there in the future. Its organizers are also interested in knowing how it’s serving the community and what it can do better. “This is always a work in progress. We rely on feedback from users to keep improving what we’re doing.” During the coming weeks, volunteers will also visit the pantry to meet patrons and listen to their feedback.
Recently, there’s been a surge in demand for pantry goods. While understanding that large households can be hard to feed, the Pantry requests that patrons try hard to share what’s there with others. “We don’t believe in setting any other barriers for use besides sharing as best you can with your neighbors,” says Albert.
The Taghkanic Community Fridge is open 24/7, and is located at Taghkanic Town Hall on Rt. 82 in West Taghkanic.
To volunteer, contribute, or suggest improvements, contact Betsy at betsyalbertfortaghkanic@gmail.com
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