Peekskill Food Drive Nets 3,500 Pounds Of Food, $200

PEEKSKILL, NY — A food drive, held Saturday at Peekskill High School, collected more than 3,500 pounds of food and $200 in cash donations.

The food and donations went to Fred's Pantry at Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP).

State Senator Pete Harckham, who led the drive, said many people in Westchester County are facing food insecurity, which is why the fight against hunger has to continue.

"Events like this food drive help keep our local food pantries stocked and also continue to raise awareness of this situation," he said. "As always, I am thankful to all those who donated and also for the many volunteers who made this a successful event."

Fred's Pantry helps feed some of the neediest members of the Peekskill community, including many seniors. The drive was in partnership with CHHOP and the New York State United Teachers.

This was the 13th food drive Harckham has hosted. In the 12 prior drives since March 2020 — one each in Sleepy Hollow, Peekskill, Mohegan Lake, Bedford, Pleasantville, Carmel and Croton-on-Hudson and two in Mount Kisco and Somers — volunteers have collected more than 40,000 pounds of food items and more than $12,000 in cash donations.