From Farms to Families: Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Awards Over $1 Million in Farm Fresh Food Grants

The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) has committed more than $1 million over the next three years to strengthening food security across the region through its Farm Fresh Food Grant initiative. Made possible with support from the NoVo Foundation, along with contributions from other funders, the initiative will provide annual grants totaling $350,000 to 28 organizations working to expand access to healthy food throughout the Hudson Valley.

The grants will support a wide range of efforts, including partnerships between farms and food pantries, fresh produce production and distribution, meal delivery for seniors and individuals undergoing cancer treatment, nutrition education and hands-on agricultural learning opportunities for students.

“Healthy food is essential to healthy communities,” said Laura Washington, president and CEO of CFHV. “These grants invest in organizations that are addressing immediate needs while building stronger, more resilient local food systems. By supporting partnerships among farmers, food pantries, schools and community organizations, we're helping ensure more of our neighbors have reliable access to fresh, nutritious food."

The Farm Fresh Food program has grown into a comprehensive regional effort to strengthen food access and build a more resilient local food system. Since its inception in 2013, more than $5.4 million has been distributed to 54 organizations, but its impact extends far beyond these grants. The program also supports innovative efforts that reduce food waste and strengthen the regional food systems, including FeedHV, the Chowmatch app, and the Food Systems Coalition.

This latest round of funding builds on CFHV's long-standing commitment to food security across the Hudson Valley. That commitment was affirmed by findings from the foundation's 2025 "Voices of the Hudson Valley" report, which identified food assistance organizations as among the most valued community resources and highlighted growing demand for the services they provide. According to the report, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley distributed 54 million pounds of food in 2024, compared with 38.8 million pounds in 2018 — an increase of approximately 45 percent.

Grant recipients include Angel Food East; Camino al Exito Project for All; Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster; Common Ground Farm; Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County; Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County; Dutchess Outreach; Family of Woodstock, Inc.; Glynwood; Grannies Respond/Abuelas Responden; Hillside Food Outreach; Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative; Kingston YMCA Farm Project; Newburgh Urban Farm and Food; North East Community Center; Pawling Resource Center; Phillies Bridge Farm Project, Inc.; Poughkeepsie Farm Project; Red Hook Responds; Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York; Rondout Valley Food Pantry Inc.; Scenic Hudson, Inc.; Second Chance Foods; Sky High Farm; Sparrow's Nest of the Hudson Valley; St. Thomas Episcopal Church Amenia Union NY; Stonewood Community Project Inc. and Ulster Immigrant Defense Network, Inc.

“Food security is about more than meeting immediate needs — it’s about building systems that connect people to healthy food year-round,” said Troy Ellen Dixon, program & operations consultant at Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative, who will use its grant to increase community access to farm-fresh food. “This grant will allow us to expand access to farm-fresh produce for our neighbors while deepening partnerships with local growers and community organizations. We are grateful for the opportunity to strengthen a food network that benefits both residents and the agricultural community throughout the Hudson Valley.”

Stonewood Community Project in Millbrook will use its Farm Fresh Food Grant to support The Market Garden, which provides fresh produce to more than 2,800 neighbors in Northeast Dutchess County. Kristen Essig, director of culinary outreach and development, remarked: “The Market Garden at Stonewood Farm is about much more than growing vegetables—it’s about growing access, health and community. This funding will help us continue providing thousands of pounds of fresh, certified organic produce to neighbors experiencing food insecurity while supporting seniors, immigrant families, children and aspiring farmers throughout Northeast Dutchess County. We are grateful to Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley for investing in local agriculture as a powerful tool to strengthen food security and improve quality of life across our region.”

Ensuring high school students won’t go home hungry after the school day ends, the Rondout Valley Food Pantry will use its grant to support the High School Backpack Pantry Program. The High School Backpack Pantry Program is a student-requested creation. In years past, as students got older, they didn’t want to participate in the Backpack Program we have in place for younger students due to the stigma. The RVFP (Rondout Valley Food Pantry) has worked diligently to remove that mindset and are so excited that those efforts and the support of the Community Foundations Fresh Food Grant will allow us to provide the fun and nutritious backpacks that older students can enjoy over the weekends when access to school snacks and meals isn’t available. By meeting students where they are and reducing barriers to access, we can help support their well-being, academic success and ability to thrive,” thanked Sue Bruck, Rondout Valley Food Pantry board president.

For more information about Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley and its efforts to strengthen food security across the region, visit CommunityFoundationsHV.org.

About The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley

Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) is a trusted partner in philanthropy, empowering individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to establish charitable funds that address the needs of Dutchess, Putnam, and Ulster counties. CFHV offers expert planning that aligns charitable giving with both personal priorities and community needs. Established in 1969 as the Area Fund, CFHV has grown to manage over $140 million in assets and administers over 600 charitable funds, distributing over $17 million in local grants and scholarships in 2025 alone. As a tax-exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), contributions to CFHV are tax-deductible within IRS guidelines.

Learn more at CommunityFoundationsHV.org and by visiting the organization on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.