Regional Food Bank's final efforts before Thanksgiving food drive

LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Regional Food Bank aims to provide an unprecedented 150,000 meals to an expanded area of the capital region ahead of Thanksgiving. The distribution will occur on November 23, earlier than Equinox charity's former Thanksgiving Day distribution.

CEO Tom Nardacci says there will be eight drive-thru style pickup locations and delivery to twenty senior centers in Schenectady, Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia, and Greene Counties.

“They don't need to pre-register. People can come, and they can pull up, and they're going to get three full bags of groceries including a full turkey. All of it is about 55 lb of food because we know that hunger doesn't end on Thanksgiving, and we want to make sure people have food for the days after Thanksgiving too" Nardacci explained.

He walked us through an expansive warehouse filled with truckloads, fridge loads, and busloads full of food.

Students from Albany High School "stuffed" a school bus with 300 turkeys, to serve needy families of fellow classmates. The need is great. The CEO showed NEWS10 that his shelves have emptied faster than normal from a higher volume of food distribution. Their clientele doesn't just get any old thing. The CEO said an array of corporate partners provides the charity with high-quality goods. 

“What we're really committed to is making sure that people in need have dignity. You know when they go to the food pantry They can get the same things that you or I could get at the grocery store" Nardacci said.

The CEO says the foodbank wants to expand this program into their Lower Hudson Valley and North Country communities.

CLICK HERE TO SEE FOOD DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS