CATSKILL — Hundreds of people turned out Tuesday morning for a mass food distribution in Catskill, the Rev. Richard Turpin of the Second Baptist Church said.
Three-hundred-fifteen 35-lb. boxes of food were given away in a little more than an hour, Turpin said.
The distribution was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., but when church members arrived early, there was already a line of people waiting outside the church, at 458 Main St., Turpin said.
The three pallets of food were empty by noon.
There was also a line waiting at the Greene County YMCA in Coxsackie, where the Y began distributing food earlier in the morning. The YMCA gave away 430 boxes of food Tuesday, Turpin said.
The Second Baptist Church and YMCA teamed up for the event, with both organizations receiving the boxes of food through a partnership that the YMCA has with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Turpin said.
No registration was required for the food distribution. It was first come-first served. Those in need walked up, or drove up, to the church, where volunteers placed the boxes in the cars.
“They go pretty quick,” Turpin said. “There’s a need in our village. Thank God we’re able to do something for the community. During the pandemic, people across our country are lining up to receive help. We felt we could make a difference.”
Tuesday’s was the third community food distribution sponsored by the church.
“We started with 100 [boxes], then we did 200 and now we’re doing 300,” Turpin said.
The church will be giving away 500 boxes at its next food distribution, which is scheduled for April 22, Turpin said.
“We want to feed our community,” Turpin said. “As long as they come get the boxes, I’ll keep extending the number higher.”