Free Fresh Food is a pop up food giveaway that takes surplus goods and makes them available to anyone who stops by. There are no strings, no justification of need, no questions. It’s helping to reduce food waste. It’s ecumenical. It's providing a vital ministry in these days of food insecurity. A different church hosts this ministry every Sunday at 1pm:
1st Sundays: Reformed Church of New Paltz, 92 Huguenot Street, 845-255-6340
2nd Sundays: Redeemer Lutheran Church, 90 Route 32 South, 845-255-0051
3rd Sundays: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 163 Main Street, 845-255-5098
4th Sundays: New Connexions United Methodist Church, 1 Grove St, 845-255-5210
5th Sundays: New Paltz Friends Meeting, 8 N. Mannheim Blvd., 845-255-5791
We receive fresh produce from local farmers, surplus food from nearby grocery stores, and donations from church and community members.
Over the past year, we have seen a significant increase in the number of people we serve. By 1pm, we often have 30 to 40 people waiting in line to select the food most appropriate for their families. While we don’t restrict the food distributions in any way, we ask that everyone be respectful of others in line behind them and only take one or two of any item. Once through all the tables, they may return to the end of the line and take as much as they would like once everyone else has had a chance to select their food. 10 heaping tables are reduced to only a table or two in a matter of minutes. We serve anywhere from 40 to 75 people per month: seniors, families, college students, and others from the community.
Of course, this ministry has become more than simply food distribution. It’s a hug of bread and danish for the woman who’s been living in her car, a helping hand to the young man with special needs who loves bagels and onions, an opportunity for gratitude from the woman who wanted to pay for her bagful of goodies. It was the young couple who took two carrots and two potatoes cradling them in their hands as they continue on their way. It’s sweet. Their blessings are felt.