Outreach

The Southern Adirondack Library System has been working with two regional food distribution networks – the Comfort Food Community and Capitol Roots’ Squash Hunger Program – to reduce food waste by rescuing food and sharing it through libraries located in rural food deserts. Begun as a pilot program in 2017 after a conversation with Glens Falls Hospital, the initiative was imagined as a way to address health disparities in areas where people depended on subprime groceries (think Dollar Stores and gas stations) for their shopping. When Glens Falls Hospital expressed difficulty reaching some communities – all of which had public libraries – SALS suggested that we leverage our trusted position to share local fresh food with our communities.

At the same time, SALS was looking to make inroads in providing adult literacy services and realized that we couldn’t address literacy without also considering the wrap-around services needed by many adult learners. By providing fresh food, new people would visit our libraries and develop relationships that could lead to offering additional services.

Since 2017, the program has mushroomed to include ten libraries in three counties: Saratoga, Warren & Washington. Our second community partner, the Capitol Roots’ Squash Hunger program, joined the initiative in 2021, allowing SALS to expand its reach. In 2020, the Farm-2-Library program shared more than ten thousand pounds of fresh food through five libraries. In the first quarter of 2021, we have shared more than 5,000 pounds of fresh and shelf-stable food. We expect to continue to grow the program as we find additional community partners to support this work.

Our 2021 Participating Libraries

• Argyle Free Library
• Bancroft Public Library (Salem)
• Cambridge Public Library
• Corinth Free Library
• Pember Library & Museum
• Rockwell Falls Public Library
• Schuylerville Public Library
• Stillwater Public Library
• Waterford Public Library
• Whitehall Free Library