Farm-to-food pantry partnership helps feed the needy in Orange County

Goshen — A contribution from Orange and Rockland Utilities (O&R) has helped turn two beef cows donated by a local farm into 1,200 pounds of ground beef destined for the needy clients of three Orange County food pantries. The two beef cows were donated by the owners of Bettinger Bluff Farm in Montgomery, Eugene and Stephen Piro, to the Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County. The donors asked that the beef be divided equally among the Orange County Veterans Coalition Food Pantry in Goshen, the Country Kids Food Pantry in Washingtonville and the Pine Bush Elementary School Food Pantry. O&R donated $3,500 to process and package the ground beef for distribution to needy families. Orange County Executive Edward A. Diana praised the partnership. “This is a great example of how much good we can do as a community when the private sector, the non-profit world and government come together.