Scarsdale Sophomores Lead Community Food Collection

For as far as Lydia Doherty ’22 and Sabrina Finegold ’22 can remember, there were barely any people waiting outside for food at the Salvation Army. However, after COVID-19 caused nearly 200,000 Hudson Valley residents to lose their jobs, and the schools that provide meals to thousands of students closed, Doherty and Finegold noticed a change. Now the line of hungry people at the Salvation Army goes around the corner and down Post Road.

“We live really close to the Salvation Army and we see the lines. They go down Post Road for people waiting to get food” detailed Doherty. Lydia, Sabrina, and their parents were appalled by this influx of community members in need and decided they had to help. 

“We’re so lucky to have the life that we do and be financially stable right now. Other people aren’t and I’ve seen so many people lined up on Post Road and we really needed to do something,” said Finegold. They decided to set up a food drive. They reached out to friends and posted on social media asking for donations, and put bins outside their houses for people to drop food off. Lydia, Sabrina, and their parents have been going most mornings to drop off the food at the Salvation Army.

Specifically, they have been donating extra shelf-stable food that people had bought before quarantine and not used. “People have not only been buying new food but bringing what they didn’t use over quarantine,” Doherty said. “A lot of people have contributed,” she added.

Lydia, Sabrina, and the Salvation Army are still in need of and accepting donations of shelf-stable food and toiletries, such as shelf-stable milk. 

If you are interested in donating, you can email Doherty at [email protected].