Corning Partners with Community Organizations Establish Regional Food Hub

“As we move through this challenge in the coming weeks, we will continue to face and overcome this obstacle just as we have so many times before – together. We are one community, united and strong.”

 Wendell P. Weeks, chairman and chief executive officer

Corning is collaborating with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier and the Corning-Painted Post School District to help address the increased demand for food assistance in Steuben County as a result of COVID-19.

Corning Enterprises, a subsidiary of Corning Incorporated, and the school district worked to find a location for a food hub which will serve as the Food Bank’s satellite distribution center in Steuben County and provide emergency food boxes to non-profit agencies for their clients.

The Food Bank recently suspended its volunteer program at its central location in Elmira because of challenges in maintaining social distancing. The impact of the pandemic has also caused demand for Food Bank services to spike across the region.

“We are so grateful for our partnership with Corning Incorporated and the Corning-Painted Post School District who made this food hub possible,” said Natasha Thompson, president and CEO of The Food Bank of the Southern Tier. “Our pantries and meal programs across the region we serve have seen a 51% increase in the number of people coming to them for help. Over the last two weeks in March, we distributed 300% more food than we did during the same time last year. The only way we can continue to meet this increased demand is with the support of the community.”

“We are so grateful for our partnership with Corning Incorporated and the Corning-Painted Post School District who made this food hub possible.” — Natasha Thompson, president and CEO of The Food Bank of the Southern Tier

The Food Bank will also receive assistance from Corning and C-PP School District employees who have stepped up to volunteer at the Steuben County Food Hub. Corning, through the work of its employees and support provided by the Corning Incorporated Foundation, have long partnered with the Food Bank to fight food insecurity.

“I’m grateful to the teams and volunteers that have worked tirelessly to get this innovative approach operational and provide support to our community when it needs it the most,” said Wendell P. Weeks, Corning chairman and chief executive officer. “As we move through this challenge in the coming weeks, we will continue to face and overcome this obstacle just as we have so many times before – together. We are one community, united and strong.”

Similar food hubs have been established in the six-county area served by the Food Bank to help mitigate potential exposure to COVID-19 for volunteers, staff, and clients.