Food for All

 It started as a trailer towed by a van, a grant-funded Cooperative Extension program to sell locally grown fruits and vegetables led by Jen Regan.

Then Jen Regan got to writing grants to seek more money and expand the program.

The current result was on full display in the rain Thursday morning outside John Duke Senior Center on Hyde Park Boulevard in Niagara Falls, an umbrella laden line 20 people deep waiting to walk away smiling with a bag of food

About 160 people received pork sausage from Binksberry Hollow in Wilson, Hoover’s Milk, DeCamillo bread and maple syrup, as well as potatoes and onion.

Regan said her program requires preregistration and is currently full. The van distributes 1,000 bags of food a month at various locations.

Current funding is $1.3 million through the State Department of Health, Nourish New York and New York Food for New York Families over 5 years. Regan  tries to make it Niagara Food for Niagara Families.

The van itself has hot and cold running water, 3 refrigerators, a freezer and a custom designed side that opens to provide cover. It also has sliding trays.

Regan is helped by one full-time employee, Nicole, and an intern Taylor from Niagara Worksource One.

The van is based at Cooperative Extension in Lockport.

Cooperative Extension will be hosting a chicken barbecue next Friday, April 19, from 3-6 p.m. at 4487 Lake Ave. in Lockport. Preordered dinners are $15 ($17 day-of-sale). Preorder at (716)-433-8839 Ext. 224. Dinner includes a half chicken, cole slaw, salt potatoes, a roll and butter.

More information is available by emailing jcr284@cornell.edu