Free food program deemed a success in Delaware

Nov. 13—The pilot year of a program distributing free, locally-grown produce to older adults in need was successful, and planning is underway to continue and potentially expand the initiative in 2025.

The farm-to-family effort was made possible through a partnership between O'Connor Hospital, the Delaware County Office for the Aging and NY Connects, Schoharie Valley Farms, and Delaware Opportunities Inc., with funding from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education New York, according to a news release from Bassett Healthcare Network.

In total, 2,338 boxes, each containing a half-bushel of food, were distributed across Delaware County, according to coordinator Susan Hammerslag, an employee of the Delaware County Office for the Aging. Fourteen weekly distributions started in July and ran through October, benefiting 167 recipients, the release stated. The boxes of produce were delivered in Delhi, Grand Gorge, Hancock, Margaretville, Sidney and Walton.

"The program was originally expected to conclude earlier, but it was extended by four additional weeks this October," Hammerslag said. "We are thankful to the trustees at O'Connor Hospital and Bassett Healthcare Network for their help in making both the extension and the program possible."

"All of us at O'Connor Hospital appreciate the hard work that went into this initiative promoting the health of our community through access to nutritious foods," said Don Harris, a board member at O'Connor Hospital, "The conversations I had with Susan, as well as with Ethan and Mary Ball of Schoharie Valley Farms were informative and uplifting. So much hard work, skill, and desire to help local neighbors went into making this program such a triumph."

In total, O'Connor Hospital provided more than $28,000 in funding to support the program. The hospital's leadership and clinicians, together with Bassett Healthcare Network's Population Health Department, also offered community needs assessment data and outreach support, according to the release.

Deliveries are expected to begin again in the summer of 2025. The exact start date is currently being planned.