Zippered Bags Make Food Transport Safer in Broome County

For many families in Broome County, getting food from a pantry isn’t the hardest part, it’s getting it home. Carrying several bags on a bus can be tricky. Food sometimes falls out, which can make the ride unsafe for drivers and passengers. Some food pantry clients struggle with this problem when they would use public transportation.

A Simple Solution: Zippered Bags

To help fix this, the Broome County Health Department’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) Grant stepped in. They donated about 1,400 insulated bags with zippers. The bags help keep food contained, safe, and easier to carry on buses.

The Community Joins In

Once word got out, other local groups wanted to help too. The Community Foundation for South Central New York and the Junior League of Binghamton added more bags, which were shared with CHOW and the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. Together, these groups made sure that families using food pantries along bus routes could benefit.

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More Than Just Bags

Mark Bordeau, President & CEO of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, explained it well by saying that fighting hunger isn’t only about food, it’s about making sure people can access it safely. These zippered bags do that as they remove barriers and show that the community cares.

Looking Toward the Future

The Broome County Food Council’s Transportation Workgroup is still working on long-term solutions for food access and transportation. For now, these zippered bags are making a real difference for hundreds of families. If you’d like to learn more about the Broome County Food Council. go here.