Dutchess Outreach Inc

DUTCHESS OUTREACH ACTS AS A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION AND EXISTS IN DUTCHESS COUNTY AS AN ADVOCATE AND PROVIDER OF HUNGER AND RELIEF SERVICES IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF INCOME, HAS ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD, AND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

THE LUNCH BOX PROVIDES HOT MIDDAY MEALS SIX DAYS A WEEK TO HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS EACH YEAR. EVENING MEALS ARE ALSO SERVED BETWEEN 15-20 TIMES A MONTH. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023, THE LUNCH BOX SERVED: 77,567 FREE MIDDAY MEALS AND 41,767 EVENING MEALS; AND 13,126 MEALS TO CHILDREN, INCLUDING IN AN AFTER-SCHOOL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS. THIS WAS A 30% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR. THE LUNCH BOX IS OPEN SIX DAYS A WEEK FROM SUNDAY TO FRIDAY. EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE/ADVOCACY & REFERRAL PROGRAM: DUTCHESS OUTREACH WORKS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS WITH FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FACING DIFFERENT KINDS OF EMERGENCIES IN THEIR LIVES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE 5,803 TOWARDS PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. THROUGH EITHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND/OR EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY AND REFERRAL, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN UTILITY AND/OR HEATING SERVICE TOTALING 19,355. THE CHILDREN'S CLOTHES CLOSET PROVIDED 600 FAMILIES WITH FREE USED CLOTHING FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE ANNUAL COAT DRIVE/GIVEAWAY COLLECTED OVER 12,000 COATS AND WINTER ESSENTIALS, DISTRIBUTED THROUGH SITES IN SURROUNDING TOWNS. ACTS OF KINDNESS (AOK) WORKS WITH HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES TO PROVIDE CLIENTS WITH HOUSEHOLD ITEMS THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ON THEIR OWN. AOK WAS ABLE TO HELP 600 PEOPLE IN THE 2022-2023. DUTCHESS OUTREACH OPERATES A MOBILE FARMERS' MARKET, THE DUTCHESS OUTREACH FRESH MARKET. THE MARKET SELLS LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE IN AREAS OF THE CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE THAT HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO FRESH FOODS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023, WE AFFORDED 11,754 POUNDS OF PRODUCE, MEAT, DAIRY FROM PARTNERS AND OUR URBAN FARM COMBINED. TWENTY FIVE PERCENT OF THE REVENUE WE GENERATED THIS SEASON IN THE MARKET CAME FROM PUBLIC BENEFIT ASSISTANCE DOLLARS, SPECIFICALLY FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM CHECKS FROM SENIORS AND MOTHERS WITH INFANT CHILDREN. THE FARM STAND IS ANOTHER POINT OF ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD. THE FARM STAND OPERATES ONE FRIDAY A MONTH AND DISTRIBUTES AN AVERAGE OF 7,000 LBS OF FOOD TO AROUND 300 PEOPLE AT A TIME. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023, THE FARM STAND DISTRIBUTED 89,671 LBS OF PRODUCE.

THE BEVERLY H. CLOSS FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES RESIDENTS OF DUTCHESS COUNTY IN NEED WITH EMERGENCY FOOD. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023, THE FOOD PANTRY PROVIDED 112,248 MEALS FOR 22,314 PEOPLE INCLUDING 5,613 CHILDREN. DUE TO THE INCREASED NEED AND NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLD VISITS, WE HAVE HAD TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF MEALS WE PROVIDE EACH DURING EACH VISIT SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE FOOD FOR MORE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.