To the Editor:

So many kind-hearted people have asked how they can help the Altamont Community Food Pantry and the people we serve during this COVID-19 crisis. Fortunately, our food pantry has been able to continue to meet the needs at this time. Because of past and continued generosity of those in our community as well as grants received, we have been able to purchase the needed food and other items even with the recent increase in demand.

There has definitely been an increase in families seeking help. In addition to those who have previously needed some assistance, we now have families who are out of work and may never have needed to use a food pantry before. Families with children find themselves needing additional food and snacks with everyone being home all day long every day. But this is exactly what we are here for.

The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and the Food Pantries for the Capital District have both done an outstanding job keeping up with the demand for food, support, and other needed items such as toilet paper. These organizations have been a tremendous resource for us and we could not do what we do without their support.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger food drive scheduled for May was postponed with a date still undetermined. This is a huge drive for our food pantry and hopefully it will be rescheduled for later this year. We may possibly need to hold a separate food drive to fill the gaps and will certainly get the word out if that is the case.

Thank you to everyone who has donated to the food pantry in any way and reached out to help. If anyone would like to make a monetary donation, you may do so in one of the following ways:

— By check made out to the Altamont Community Food Pantry and mailed to Post Office Box 678, Altamont NY 12009;

— By check made out to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and mailed to 965 Albany-Shaker Rd, Latham NY 12110 (be sure to note that the donation is for the Altamont Community Food Pantry; the funds will be put directly on our account); or

— Through the Regional Food Bank website: https://regionalfoodbank.net by selecting “Adopt-a-Program” as the designation and then indicating the “Altamont Community Food Pantry” as the specific agency program to receive the donation.

Since mid-March, we have changed the way we operate due to COVID-19. Instead of being client-choice where people come into the pantry and select what they want, we are currently pre-bagging food, scheduling appointments, and having items picked up outside of the building. At this point, we are unsure of how long this will continue and how things will look from here on.

If anyone is in need of food assistance at this time, please call 518-861-6542 and someone will contact you to schedule an appointment.

As always, we are so very grateful to be a part of such a caring community.

Judy Seery

Director

Altamont Community

Food Pantry