Surplus Food for Hungry Neighbors: An App for That
With Federal Grants in Flux, Food Donations, Volunteers, and Monetary Contributions Are Crucial for the Hudson Valley
For more than a decade, the Hudson Valley has been tackling food insecurity through a strong network of food banks, small farms, businesses, local governments, and social agencies. These collaborations have been fueled by a mix of federal funding—currently in flux—and the generosity of individual donors and volunteers.
While increasing food production and distribution is essential, another critical piece of the puzzle is reducing food waste. Food waste accounts for 17% of New York State’s municipal waste, making it both an environmental and humanitarian issue. That’s where ChowMatch, a San Francisco Bay-area technology company, and the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV), have stepped in.
A Tech-Driven Solution to Food Waste
After convening local emergency food rescue providers in 2016, CFHV was inspired by an idea presented during the meeting to streamline food rescue efforts through the development of an app. CFHV staff researched and adopted ChowMatch, a cutting-edge app that connects surplus food donors—restaurants, grocery stores, caterers, and farms—with local agencies serving residents in need. The app also mobilizes volunteers to transport food donations, ensuring that fresh, nutritious food reaches those who need it most.
One example is Poughkeepsie Farm Project, which began using ChowMatch to coordinate volunteers and donations. “ChowMatch isn’t the only way we donate food, but it helped us distribute about 26,000 pounds of fresh produce to 14 community partners,” said Justin Saret, wholesale and office manager at Poughkeepsie Farm Project.
How ChowMatch Works
ChowMatch launched in the Hudson Valley in 2017 to address a key logistical gap: linking food donors with agencies that often lack the resources to transport donations. CFHV has partnered with Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corp. (HVADC) since 2018 to host FeedHV, a network that formally maintains the ChowMatch app while supporting regional collaborations and programming.
“The app bridges the gap between businesses with surplus food and organizations feeding people in need,” explains Christopher Braccia, program associate of FeedHV.
Here’s how it works:
- A farm or business posts surplus food in the ChowMatch app, including quantity, type, and pickup time.
- The app matches the donation with a recipient agency based on location, food type, and availability.
- A volunteer claims the food run in the app, picks up the food, and delivers it to the designated agency.
This process ensures food is distributed quickly and efficiently, reducing waste while addressing hunger.
Small Businesses Making a Big Impact
For small business owners like Ali Chetkof Rhodes, co-owner of Moonrise Bagels, food waste has always been a concern.
“I hate seeing perfectly good food thrown away,” said Rhodes. “Through ChowMatch, we’ve donated over 1,000 pounds of bagels on 49 food runs to 13 different agencies in just one year.”
Local partnerships like these are key to ensuring that high-quality food reaches people who need it most.
Growing the Network: Reaching More Donors and Agencies
Educating the community about ChowMatch has been a major factor in its success. In Sullivan County alone, food rescue efforts skyrocketed from nearly zero to moving 20,000-30,000 pounds of food.
By working with groups like the Greene County Food Security Coalition, FeedHV has expanded its reach, helping more farms and food businesses divert surplus food to those in need.
“ChowMatch is especially valuable for farms that don’t yet have a structured way to donate their surplus,” said Saret.
Dutchess Outreach has also seen success in partnering with school districts, which now donate excess dairy and other perishable foods before school breaks.
“As schools prepare to close for holidays, they donate their surplus food to us,” said Evelina Knodel, director of operations at Dutchess Outreach.
ChowMatch’s Role in Strengthening the Local Food System
Beyond preventing food waste, ChowMatch is helping to build a more resilient regional food system—something that is becoming increasingly critical in light of uncertain federal funding.
“Tools like ChowMatch allow us to connect local food providers with regional producers, ensuring fresh, nutritious food gets to people in need while reducing reliance on volatile global food systems,” Knodel explained.
With organizations like Catskill Food Pantry already feeling the strain of reduced federal support, grassroots efforts like ChowMatch are more important than ever.
ChowMatch in Action: A Lifeline for Families in Need
Pastor Edward Benson of Glory2God Ministries sees firsthand how critical food security has become.
“Housing prices are skyrocketing, and families are forced to choose between rent, utilities, and food,” he said. “It’s a weekly struggle.”
Through ChowMatch, nonprofits like Second Chance Foods deliver rescued food to Glory2God’s soup kitchen and food pantry, serving 50-60 people twice a month.
“This app makes all the difference. Many in our community don’t openly talk about food insecurity, but they feel its impact daily. With ChowMatch, at least for that day, they know they’ll have a healthy meal,” said Pastor Benson.
A Call to Action: How You Can Help
With rising food insecurity and federal funding in question, the success of the Hudson Valley’s community food network depends on individuals’ support.
- To volunteer or donate surplus food, visit chowmatch.com and select “New York.”
- To contribute to local food security efforts, donate to the Fund for Food Security at cfhvny.org.
Images (from top): courtesy FeedHV, courtesy ChowMatch.
