Assemblyman Brian Maher (R,C-Walden) continued his efforts to address food insecurity throughout the Hudson Valley by bringing together community partners for a food distribution event held Thursday at Calliope & Gael Grocers in Livingston Manor.

The event was made possible through a collaborative effort involving the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS), local libraries, food pantries and community organizations, providing area residents with access to nutritious food while connecting them with additional local resources.

“Assemblyman Maher has been a long-time advocate for addressing food insecurity in communities throughout the Hudson Valley and neighboring regions,” said Meghan Hurlburt, chief of staff to Assemblyman Maher. “The assemblyman was able to secure funding for local libraries, so he brought them together with the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, local food pantries, the library and other stakeholders and community leaders to help educate the masses on food insecurity while simultaneously working together to address it. We at Team Maher always say cooperation and teamwork always produce positive results,” Hurlburt added. “A special thanks to Maggie Sutter and Barry Lewis from the Hudson Valley Food Bank and Jen Park and her team at RCLS for their hard work and time in making the food distribution a success.”

The event highlighted the important role libraries play as trusted community hubs by connecting residents with essential services beyond books, including access to food assistance, educational resources and local support organizations.

Maher’s office has continued to prioritize partnerships with local governments, nonprofits and community organizations to ensure families throughout the 101st Assembly District have access to the resources they need. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders, these community events help expand awareness of available assistance while directly supporting residents facing food insecurity.