Cargill gives $22.5K to food project

WATKINS GLEN—Cargill will donate $22,500 to Catholic Charities of Schuyler County Friday, Feb. 28, to continue to operate the Schuyler County Community Food Project. This grant will fund a part-time employee to coordinate food collection, distribution and education activities as well as program supplies.
The objectives of this project are to address long-term solutions to hunger-related issues in the community. Coordination activities will primarily focus on strengthening the established Volunteer Corps and training new Volunteer Coordinators. The corps will recruit, train and coordinate the needed volunteers to perform the education, collection and distribution activities desperately needed in Schuyler County.
In an effort to address long-term solutions to hunger-related issues in the community, Catholic Charities started the Community Garden in 2009. The purpose of the garden was to teach people how to grow their own food and to provide fresh, locally grown produce to those in need through the food pantries and senior housing facilities. One significant obstacle that was identified was the lack of education on how to prepare and use fresh produce. The Community Food Project addresses this issue through education and awareness. Demonstration videos, featuring local chefs, will be created to show those accessing the food pantries how to use the fresh produce that they are receiving.
“Cargill’s statement of purpose is to be the Global Leader in Nourishing People,” said Don Chutas, Cargill Salt’s plant manager. “This grant helps support that purpose and Catholic Charities’ mission of reducing poverty and promoting a healthy family life.”