On Friday, I received an email from Mike DelGrosso, the chef/owner of Canoe Hill restaurant in Millbrook.
Subject: Tuesday free dinners
Hi Carrie,
I hope all is well! Reaching out because we’re opening every Tuesday from 5-7pm for a free community dinner to help those in need or anyone who wants a meal. Since the SNAP benefits have ended, a lot of people will be unable to buy food, and we want to help however we can. It’s crazy to me that this is happening in this day and age. I’ve never done anything like this before, so I’m not sure how to get the word out to the people that this will most benefit. If you could help in any way, or have any suggestions, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much and hope to see you soon!
Mike
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Canoe Hill is one of my favorite Hudson Valley restaurants and Mike and I met earlier this year, when I had the pleasure of writing about his restaurant for Chronogram.
Reading Mike’s email made my heart hurt both because I felt the pain of so many people’s basic needs not being met—42 million people in the US receive SNAP benefits, which is about one in eight Americans—and because I felt admiration for the compassion of one person’s instinct to respond immediately, simply, and generously.
My first thought was to ask our dear editor Brian, “How can we help?” He responded right away: He’d received dozens of similar notes about grassroots efforts to feed their neighbors. He was trying to wrap his mind around it and asked me if I wanted to write about it.
I did. I do!
Within the hour, news broke that a judge had ordered SNAP—the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—to be funded despite the government shutdown. But what that meant in practice was unclear. Would benefits be restored quickly enough to prevent days of hunger? Would payments return at the same levels?
In the days since, more news and more confusion have followed. What’s certain, however, is this: Hudson Valley neighbors are not waiting for answers from Washington. From free community meals to food pantry drives to restaurants quietly offering a seat and a warm plate, local people are showing up for one another in tangible, heartfelt ways.
Asking for help or even walking into a place that some might normally think of as “not for me” can be hard. But this moment is about neighbors, not transactions. If you’re hungry, if you’re struggling, you’re not alone. The doors opening across the Hudson Valley right now—restaurants, churches, pantries, schools—are doing so in the spirit of community.
Our hope in sharing these resources isn’t just to help people find food, but also to help each other feel welcome in seeking and accepting care.
If you’re in need of nourishment, there are many organizations, businesses, and neighbors who are here to help you. We at Chronogram want to make these resources known to those who are in need by providing links to several organizations by county that provide food assistance.
Information to keep in mind:
If you still have SNAP benefits from October on your card, those funds are still active and can be used anywhere SNAP is accepted, including farmers’ markets.
To avoid any interruption once federal funding resumes, current SNAP recipients should continue to complete all required paperwork, like recertifications and periodic reporting.
Households approved for SNAP after November 1, 2025 may not see benefits issued until the federal government fully restores funding after the shutdown.
New applications for SNAP are still being processed—you can apply online at Mybenefits.ny.gov or visit your local Department of Social Services in person.
We’ve chosen to be fast rather than comprehensive. There are dozens of food pantries and food justice organizations operating in every county across the Hudson Valley not captured on this list.
New York State
Keep New Yorkers Fed
Albany
Free Meals and Food Pantries in Albany County
The Food Pantries of the Capital District
Columbia County
Columbia County, NY Food Assistance and Pantries
Dutchess County
Dutchess Country Food Pantries & Meal Programs
Dutchess OutreachThe Lunch Box
Canoe Hill
Fareground
Greene County
Community Action of Greene County
Catskill Ecumenical Council Food Pantry
Orange County
Honor Shelter and Food Pantry
Orange County Wide Food Assistance Directory
Putnam County
Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam County
Glynwood Farm Store 30% SNAP Discount
Putnam CAP (Community Action Partnership)
Putnam Valley Community Food Pantry
Rensselaer
Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselear County
Rockland County
Rockland Community Against Hunger
Sullivan County
Sullivan Allies Living Together
Ulster County
Family of Woodstock – Emergency food pantries and meal programs throughout the county.
People’s Place – Daily food pantry and “Community Café” serving free hot meals in Kingston.
Ulster County Community Action Committee – Food assistance and nutrition support programs across the county.
Ulster County Food Pantries map and UCAT route
Westchester County
Feeding Westchester
Hudson Valley Region
Family of Woodstock
Regional Food Bank
Food Pantry Finder
Service Workers SNAP Emergency Fund
