MONTGOMERY – The Regional Food Bank Hudson Valley has purchased an outdoor generator for its new 50,000-square-foot distribution center in the Town of Montgomery in Orange County, thanks to a generous donation of $250,000 from the Orange County Funding Corporation (OCFC), a sister agency of the Orange County Industrial Development Agency (IDA). 

With the task of distributing more than 21 million pounds of food across six counties in the Hudson Valley to over 400 community partners, the Regional Food Bank seeks to minimize risk whenever possible. This donation from the OCFC/Orange County IDA will minimize any downtime due to a storm or natural disaster. 

 “If we lost power, we could lose the perishable items in our refrigerators and freezers, which could leave people who depend on us hungry,” said Tom Nardacci, CEO Regional Food Bank.  “Through this donation, the Regional Food Bank will continue to have a positive impact on residents throughout the Hudson Valley.” 

The Caterpillar Model C18PD Diesel Fueled Generator will help ensure the new Orange County Distribution Center can operate during power outages, preventing food waste and providing nutritious meals to some 140,000 people in need in Orange, Ulster, Sullivan, Dutchess, Rockland and Putnam counties.

“The missions of the IDA and OCFC are to improve the lives of people in Orange County, as is the Food Bank’s,” said Bill Fioravanti, CEO Orange County IDA. “There is no single project more impactful than the Food Bank Hudson Valley’s new distribution center and we are happy to play a small role in making it a success.”

With a larger inventory of refrigerated and frozen foods, the Food Bank needed a back-up energy source to keep food safe during power outages, which can occur a few times each year, especially during severe weather events.

“The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley’s new distribution center is incredibly vital, not just to residents of Orange County but for our entire region,” said Jeffrey Crist, Chairman Orange County IDA. “The generator project will help ensure the safe keeping of food and support Quality of Life in the Hudson Valley.”