I am writing to express our sincere appreciation for the wonderful fresh produce program offered by the four-acre garden at the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility and delivered to local food pantries once a week.

I cannot begin to express what a huge difference this program makes in the lives of people who face food insecurity in the North Country! This program allows these families to have fresh fruit and vegetables on their tables, that they otherwise would not be able to afford.

This summer we were treated to squash (zucchini, butternut, spaghetti, eggplant and yellow), green peppers, sweet peppers, watermelons, cantaloupe, green and red cabbage, pumpkins, tomatoes and cherry tomatoes, potatoes, and green and yellow beans!

Many of our guests take the produce and can it for the winter months ahead. This helps them in saving money on food during the winter months, when the cost of heating their homes rise.

This unique program is such a blessing to so many families in the North Country! On behalf of the families who receive food from the Norfolk Raymondville Food Pantry, as well as the Senior Citizens who reside at the High Street Apartments in Norfolk, thank you for our share of the 34,476 pounds of fresh produce distributed this summer!

We sincerely appreciate all the time, work, and planning that goes into such an impressive program!

We are already looking forward to the fresh produce that will be offered next summer.

Wendy Chambers

Norfolk Raymondville Food Pantry