Binghamton, NY – With overwhelming support from the community, Holiday Giving Boxes will help provide 183 holiday meals to local families this week. Assemblywoman Lupardo was joined by representatives from CHOW, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Broome Tioga BOCES at the Broome County Regional Farmer’s Market, to pack and deliver the boxes to families across Broome County.

Each box includes a turkey, side dishes, locally grown potatoes, carrots, onions, and squash, as well as a pie purchased from local vendors. An online fundraiser was set up to support the initiative, with a goal of raising enough to provide holiday meals to 150 families. Due to the tremendous support from many generous donors, the initiative surpassed that goal, and, in the end, raised enough to provide 183 meals for more than 850 people.

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo said, “I’d like to thank the community partners who came together once again to support local families this holiday season. I am also grateful to the many generous donors who helped us exceed this year’s goal. Being able to prepare a healthy holiday meal for one’s family is something many take for granted. These boxes, that also include locally grown ingredients, will bring some needed cheer to many families this year.”

Les Aylesworth, Executive Director of CHOW said, “We started the Holiday Giving Box initiative with an ambitious goal of 150 boxes,but because of the generosity of the community, we’re delivering 183 boxes of delicious, nutritious, locally sourced “holiday cheer” to families this year!What a joy to do this and what a joy it’s been to work with Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, her team, Broome CCE, BTBOCES and the Farmer’s Market in bringing joy to others this holiday season.”

Molly McManus, Communications Coordinator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County said, "We are honored to once again partner with CHOW, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, and Broome-Tioga BOCES Rock on Cafe to present the Holiday Giving Box this year. Budgets are already stretched thin rising food costs are a concern for many families. The Holiday Giving Box will relieve some of that burden, and provide a nutritious, festive meal to enjoy this holiday season."

Annie Hudock, Broome-Tioga BOCES said, “We are so excited and fortunate to have surpassed our goal of 150 Giving Boxes for our community this holiday season. We could not have done this without the help of all the area community members, school districts and partners that contributed to this amazing cause.“

Stacey Duncan, CEO of the Leadership Alliance said, “The Leadership Alliance, through the Broome County…a good life campaign, is proud to participate in CHOW’s Annual Holiday Giving Box program alongside our other community partners. All of us at The Agency and the Leadership Alliance believe that everyone deserves access to healthy and nutritious food, and especially a warm, delicious holiday meal. By matching fifty Holiday Giving Boxes, we hoped to encourage our fellow community members to join us in pushing CHOW over the finish line, and we are elated to have learned that the initiative surpassed its goal and will provide 183 meals and holiday cheer to Broome County families in real need.”

Lupardo, CHOW, B-T BOCES and CCE are excited to continue this initiative and have already begun planning for 2022.