ITHACA, N.Y. — The Friendship Donations Network will launch its annual Neighborhood Food Hub program next week, with 10 locations across Tompkins County where gardeners and CSA members can drop off their extra produce. The program delivers fresh fruits, veggies and eggs to community organizations, saving perfectly good produce from going to waste.
From July 15 to Oct. 15 there will be at least one active food hub nearly every day, with drop-off spots in Brooktondale, Groton, Ithaca, Newfield and Trumansburg. While most produce will be delivered to area food programs the following day, a new “give and take” system will let community members who share their surplus take home what they can use.
The Friendship Donations Network was established 30 years ago to provide healthy food to households in need by redistributing food that would be thrown away by stores and farms. The organization serves an average of 2,000 people every week by bringing surplus food to meal programs, community centers, food pantries, low-income housing communities and through grassroots distribution networks. By FDN’s tally, the network of 200 volunteers saves more than 1,000 pounds of food from reaching the landfill or compost heap each day.
Related: Feeding Tompkins: Food insecurity is anything but simple
During the summer, the Neighborhood Food Hub program extends FDN’s reach by letting community members share their produce directly. Since the first hubs popped up in 2013, gardeners and farm-supporters have donated more than 25,000 pounds of produce.
Here’s the full schedule of 2019 Neighborhood Food Hub drop-offs. A map of the locations is available here.
ITHACA
Esty Street Garden, near the intersection of Esty St. and Route 13 next to CFCU, Thursday 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Fall Creek, 102 Franklin St., Sunday 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Fall Creek, 222 E. Falls St., Thursday 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
First Congregational Church, 309 Highland Rd., Sunday 9:30 –11:30 a.m.
Ithaca Community Gardens, Carpenter Circle, Wednesday & Sunday 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
Tompkins County Mental Health Department, 201 E. Green St., Weekdays 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
BROOKTONDALE
Caroline Food Pantry, 524 Valley Rd., 1st & 3rd Monday 9–11:30a.m. & 4–4:30p.m.
GROTON
Library, 112 E. Cortland St., Tuesday 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
NEWFIELD
United Methodist Church, 229 Main St, 1st & 3rd Wednesday 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
TRUMANSBURG
2020 Cayuga Street, Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Featured image provided by Friendship Donations Network.