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Sullivan Fresh community cupboard reports soaring demand, warns of capacity shortfall
Summary
Sullivan Fresh's Community Cupboard director said the program delivered more than 12,000 food deliveries last year, now serves 700-plus people a week and has seen emergency calls double in the last three months; the program said federal funding cuts and rising rents/utilities are driving need and warned the operation is near capacity.
Martin (Marty) Colavito, speaking for the Sullivan Fresh Community Cupboard at a Government Services Committee meeting, told county officials the cupboard delivered more than 12,000 food deliveries last year, serves "700 plus people a week" and has experienced a 100% increase in emergency calls over the previous three months.
"Our commitment is that somebody who doesn't have food, we deliver food within 24 hours," Colavito said. He said the cupboard also maintains an open pantry at Cornell Cooperative Extension on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon and will make special arrangements when callers cannot wait for a regular delivery.
Colavito described the principal drivers of rising demand as higher rents, spikes in utility bills and reductions in federal assistance for food programs: "We used to have a lot more meat that's all been cut. Everything else now." He said the cupboard's capacity is constrained by storage space and funding; the program is arranging community fundraising and outreach to secure more resources.
Committee members and public commenters stressed the local urgency. One commenter urged faster progress on the Gateway Housing Project, describing the center as a way to help people move from crisis to employment. County staff and others clarified that the Gateway project and a proposed stabilization center are separate efforts; public speakers urged quicker implementation of housing and support services.
Colavito said he has seen households become homeless after rent increases or utility shocks and described recent deliveries to people who have lost housing. He described plans to raise funds and awareness, including a personal fundraising walk of 44 miles to drum up sponsors.
The committee discussed options for community members to help, and Colavito encouraged residents and officials to visit the pantry, ride on a delivery route or call him directly to coordinate donations. He said the program has never turned away someone in immediate need and that capacity and funding limits are the main constraint to expanding service.
Officials acknowledged the scale of the problem and said more cross-agency collaboration will be needed to identify funding and capacity solutions. No new county funding or formal action was recorded at the meeting.
