How technology is helping close food insecurity in the Hudson Valley

What started as a collaborative conversation among nonprofits blossomed into a tech-enabled movement to rescue surplus food in the Hudson Valley. The Community Foundation of the Hudson Valley — a nonprofit organization that supports initiatives in education, health, the arts, human services, and more across Dutchess, Ulster, and Putnam counties through philanthropy — and with a long-standing commitment to improving food access, played a central role in bringing the ChowMatch app to the region — but with a local twist.

The idea was sparked during one of the Foundation’s regular convenings, where a nonprofit partner shared a simple but powerful vision. “She just said, ‘Wouldn’t it be so cool if, when I’m out at a farm and they tell me they’ve got 20 pallets of zucchini, I could just go on an app and say I’ve got 20 pallets of zucchini — who needs it? Who can process it? Who can distribute it tomorrow?’”

Donation from Moonrise Bagels to the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie

Instead of starting from scratch, they discovered ChowMatch, a tech platform already used on the West Coast to redirect surplus food from retailers and restaurants. “Let’s not reinvent this,” CFHV’s Vice President Cristin McPeake says. “We found one that already existed and was close to what we needed.” From there, they worked closely with the creator to customize the app for the Hudson Valley’s unique food landscape—especially its abundance of farm-fresh produce.

But the real magic came in what they built around the app. Branded locally as FeedHV, the system now helps move food between farms, donors, and local organizations. “FeedHV is more than just an app,” McPeake said. “It’s a network. It’s a community of people working together.”

This was a donation from Second Chance Foods to Fareground Inc. in Beacon, NY. 

Here’s how it works: Volunteers sign up, set their availability and driving radius, and receive alerts when donations are available nearby. “I can say I’ll drive 30 miles, and then I get a notification—hey, there’s a bagel shop donating leftovers, or the Poughkeepsie Farm Project has kale ready to go. And I can claim it and deliver it to a local pantry or soup kitchen. It’s simple—and honestly, it’s kind of addictive in the best way.”

Over time, some volunteers have developed consistent routes. “We have people who do the same run every Tuesday. It becomes part of their rhythm, their way of giving back,” McPeake adds. And when unusual or last-minute needs arise—like schools with milk cartons about to expire before spring break—the Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation (HVADC), which oversees the program’s day-to-day operations, steps in to coordinate. “We never want to lose a match,” she emphasized. “Even if no one claims it in the app, HVADC will find a way to make it happen.”

That human touch makes all the difference. According to McPeake, “The tech is amazing, but it’s the people behind it that make it work. If a match gets tricky—say we’ve got 80 pounds of onions no one wants—they’ll find a home for it.”

This was a donation from Fishkill Farm which went to Fareground Inc. 

And the need is still growing. “We always want more volunteers. We also want more nonprofits who can use the food—especially those that can process produce and turn it into something incredible.”

McPeake’s advice to organizations? “Just get on the app. You can set your preferences—when you’re open to receive, what kinds of donations you accept. And if you need help, HVADC is happy to talk you through it.”

For anyone curious about getting involved, she had this to say: “What I loved from the volunteer perspective is how low the commitment is. If you’ve got a car, a trunk, and 30 minutes—you can help. You’ll meet people in your community, and you’re delivering beautiful, fresh food that would otherwise go to waste.”

“It’s an easy way to dip your toe in,” McPeake adds. “But watch out—you might just fall in love with it.”