The Joshua Project needs help to feed thousands of people this summer.
The organization’s twin food programs, Summer Backpack and Summer Lunch are looking for volunteers before both get underway in a week or so.
“I need drivers,” Carrie Foland, who with husband Dennis coordinates the Backpack Program, told 30 who attended Joshua’s meeting at St. Christopher’s Church in Cobleskill Tuesday night.
And the Folands need not only drivers but a passenger to accompany each driver.
The Backpack Program delivers enough food to feed a needy family for a week or more. Last year, the Joshua Project delivered 16 tons of food to 165 families.
So far, 156 families have already signed up this year, and more are expected.
The first delivery day is next Friday, the 21st, from Middleburgh Central School at 10am. Deliveries continue for 10 weeks.
For those who haven’t delivered before, there’s training right before deliveries.
“It’s important that people get training,” said Joshua President Pat Costello, but if not, we’ll figure it out.”
Delivery teams have anywhere from four to 12 stops around the county, and trips take about two hours, Mr. Costello said.
People can volunteer by visiting the website joshuaschoharie.org or by calling Ms. Foland at 518-827-4559.
Summer Lunch serves lunches in Cobleskill, Middleburgh, Richmondville and Central Bridge. Lunches are available for anyone; last year, Joshua volunteers served more than 10,000 at the four sites.
The sites need volunteers for prep, serving and clean-up.
Volunteers can sign up on the Cobleskill United Methodist Church’s website and will be able sign up for Middleburgh––held at the high school––on the Joshua website soon, Mr. Costello said.
Richmondville, at the United Methodist Church, and Central Bridge, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also need volunteers.
All sites start July 1 and serve lunches, including a grill day and pizza day, five days per week.
Middleburgh and Central Bridge end August 23; Cobleskill and Richmondville, August 30.

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While the Joshua Project gears up for its summer programs, it’s also continuing fundraising, and funds came in Tuesday night.
The S’cary Leg Runners held their 5K in May and presented $4,250 from the run to Mr. Costello.
“It’s a very generous donation,” Mr. Costello said, “and we thank you for it.”
The Joshua Project depends heavily on donations like the Runners’. To donate, visit the website or mail a check to The Joshua Project, PO Box 413, Middleburgh, NY 12122.
Donations can be for Joshua programs or the fund for the new building. If a donation is for the building, write ‘building fund’ in the memo line.