Binghamton Government Plaza Food Challenge Donates Over 14,500 Meals to CHOW

BINGHAMTON, NY - Senator Fred Akshar, County Executive Jason Garnar and City of Binghamton Mayor Richard C. David on Friday announced the winning local government building in the3rd Annual Government Plaza Thanksgiving Food Challenge to benefit Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW), a program of the Broome County Council of Churches.

From November 15-19, CHOW collection barrels were set up in the lobbies of the State Office Building, Broome County Office Building and Binghamton City Hall. Community members and government employees at the city, county and state levels donated over 14,500 community meals to local families in need through non-perishable food and cash donations, well over last year’s donation tally of 11,000 meals.

Coming out on top this year with the most donations was the Binghamton State Office Building.

Senator Fred Akshar said, “I’m so proud of our government employees, who truly came through for local families in our community, but this Food Drive goes far beyond the walls of the Government Plaza. We all worked together to not only help those in need, but also raise awareness throughout our community of CHOW and Broome County Council of Churches’ various collection drives.”

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said,"Thank you to our Broome County employees for stepping up to make a difference in our community. We're proud to be supporting those in need in Broome County this holiday season and appreciate everything CHOW does for our community."

City of Binghamton Mayor Richard C. David said, “This was great opportunity for us to come together and work together toward a wonderful goal and cause. The men and women in Government Plaza are here to serve the public, and this is just another way for us to help those who are less fortunate around the holidays.”

CHOW Director Les Aylesworth said,“We at CHOW® are so grateful for Senator Akshar, the City of Binghamton, and Broome County’s partnership on this food drive. This time of year the need for our services is very high and this challenge will be a fun way to assure our shelves are stocked and our neighbors do not go without this Thanksgiving.”

For those who still wish to help, donations can be made online at www. BroomeCouncil.Net/Donate. For every dollar donated, CHOW is able to distribute 5 meals to families in need. Bearded Broome, a local organization also raising funds for CHOW is accepting donations with a private donor match now through Thanksgiving at BeardedBroome.com.

Each year, CHOW, through its network of nearly 100 partner agencies (pantries, community meals and non-profit organizations), distributes over 2.2 million pounds of food to assure those struggling with food insecurity do not go without.

In Broome County, 1 in 8 individuals and 1 in 5 children are food insecure.