WJFF - The Local Edition - Special Report

On October 31, Martin Colavito and his wife Lynn will begin a 46-mile walk from their home in Liberty to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York in Montgomery. Their goal isn’t fitness — it’s food security.

The couple’s journey, known as Martin and Lynn’s Long Walk, will unfold over four days and is designed to raise both funds and awareness for the Sullivan Fresh Community Cupboard. The program, run by SALT (Sullivan Allies Leading Together), delivers food to more than 700 people across the county each week. But sustaining that number is becoming increasingly difficult.

“What we’ve found since January is that the sources of nutrition have been steadily declining,” Colavito said. “The USDA funding that used to support a lot of the food programs is just not there like it was.”

With fewer resources and rising costs, the cupboard has been forced to start a waiting list, something Colavito never thought would happen when the program launched five years ago during the early days of the COVID-19 shutdown.

“It breaks my heart to have a waiting list. There’s something incredibly immoral about having a waiting list for food,” he said.

The cupboard was created to help residents with limited access to food, especially those confined to their homes during the pandemic. Today, it serves many who are working and still can’t afford to eat.

“Most people would be shocked if they knew how many of our neighbors who are food insecure are also employed,” Colavito said. “They’re part of our community. They’re not taking advantage of anything. They’re just trying to eat.”

In rural Sullivan County, transportation is a major hurdle. Even if a pantry is nearby, it’s not always reachable.

“Just because someone has a car doesn’t mean they have access,” he said. “That one car might be taking someone to work. If you have an infant at home, four blocks might as well be four miles.”

According to FeedHV.org, around 10% of Hudson Valley residents experience food insecurity. One in eight children live in households where meals aren’t guaranteed. While New York State has allocated over $500 million to food access programs since 2020, recent federal funding cuts have hit local food distribution efforts hard.

The Colavitos are covering their own travel and lodging expenses. Every dollar raised will go directly to the Community Cupboard. Supporters can sponsor a mile of the walk for $50. The walk itself will take them through several towns, offering opportunities to engage with residents along the way.

“We want to take this time to reflect on how lucky we are and have real conversations about hunger and hardship,” Colavito said. “Hunger doesn’t care what party you belong to. If you’re suffering, you’re suffering.”

Colavito does not receive a salary for his role with the cupboard. Lynn works part-time, though she often puts in more hours than a full-time schedule. For them, this walk is a commitment to their neighbors and to a cause that’s becoming more urgent by the month.

“We have ten months of funding left,” Colavito said. “This walk is about buying us time. Time to keep the cupboard open. Time to find sustainable funding. And time to remind people that we all have a role to play.”

If all goes as planned, the couple will reach the food bank in Montgomery on November 3. Along the way, they’re hoping for good conversations, supportive gestures, and perhaps a few waves from passing cars.

“If you see us, say hi,” said Colavito. “You’ll know us, two dorks with walking sticks.”

To sponsor a mile or donate to the Sullivan Fresh Community Cupboard, visit sullivansalt.org All proceeds go directly toward purchasing and delivering food in Sullivan County.