SEFCU CHOW Donation

The credit union for New York State employees is helping to stock food pantries in Broome County.

SEFCU delivered a $20,000 donation to CHOW, the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse, Wednesday. CHOW, which is operated by the Broome County Council of Churches supplies food for 30 pantries throughout the county.

Council Director Joe Sellepack says cash donations can be stretched further because the organization is able to purchase food at wholesale prices. He says the need in our area continues to grow by double digits each year, 20 percent this year which was made worse by the flooding. "We're stretched because we're not only meeting the emerging need of the flood but you're also dealing with the ongoing need of the food pantries and the people in our neighborhoods that require food.

"Sellepack says that while the warehouse's shelves seem full now, CHOW is coming off its busiest time of year with holiday food drives. And many of the supplies are specifically earmarked for flood relief. He says by February, many of the racks will be bare.