An eager contingent of volunteers from Empire City, Yonkers Raceway, its driving colony and the Standardbred Owners of New York are once again lending a hand to assist the Food Bank for Westchester.

Dozens of participants, including leading drivers Jason Bartlett, Brent Holland, Mark MacDonald and Jordan Stratton, are among those lined up and ready to weigh, sort and pack Tuesday afternoon (April 16) at the food bank's warehouse in Elmsford, located about 20 minutes north of Yonkers. The event, which includes a tour of the huge operation, is scheduled from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The fruits off all this labour are eventually seen countywide, as the food bank continues to reach out to the neediest in its area.

"We're only too happy to help such a worthwhile cause," Empire City vice president and COO Bob Galterio said. "Having our employees and best-known drivers volunteer their time makes it that much better."

“We’re pleased to again be able to help the Food Bank for Westchester,” Joe Faraldo, president of the SOA of New York said. “We appreciate the efforts of our leading drivers, the SOA staff and Yonkers Raceway management and employees. We continue our efforts to address the most basic of human needs, to be free of hunger.”

The Raceway and its horsemen have also pledged to make a donation to the food bank.

“Anything we can do to help, it’s our pleasure,” Bartlett said.

The Food Bank for Westchester, one of eight food banks in New York State, is the backbone of the county’s emergency food network. It acquires, warehouses and distributes more than seven million pounds of food annually to over 220 frontline hunger-relief organizations. Those organizations include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, day care and residential programs.

In early 2012, the food bank moved to a larger warehouse (200 Clearbrook Road in Elmsford), getting more food out the estimated 200,000 people in Westchester who are hungry or at risk of hunger. The food bank’s mission is to lead, engage and educate county residents in creating a hunger-free environment.

For more information, contact the food bank (914-923-1100), or visit them online (foodbankforwestchester.org).

(Yonkers)