Hundreds of families received much-needed food donations at the Feeding Westchester distribution center in Elmsford today.

Officials say the need has never been greater in Westchester County.

“It’s tremendously more than it’s ever been before. On average we feed about 200,000 people across the county,” says Matt Eagan of Feeding New York. “We’ve seen that now pushing close to 500,000.”

News 12 is told over 400 families were in attendance at the Westchester headquarters today.

Since the pandemic began, the organization has distributed 6 million pounds of food. They don’t believe it will slow down anytime soon.

News 12 reporter Ty Milburn spoke with a recipient who says this visit counted as his third time in line.

“It’s a lot of families and we need to get the food because we have kids to feed and this is a big help,” says Yonkers resident Gonzales Rogain.

The National Guard was also in attendance assisting with packing cars with food.

“We have some families that shed tears. It’s a heartfelt moment...,” says National Guard Sgt. Tarel Morton. “It means a lot to us.”

Morton says while it’s his patriotic duty to give back, he feels honored to lend a helping hand.

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