Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition Hosts Second Regional Mutual Aid Food Distribution to Support Families Amid Deepening Crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 4, 2025, Hudson, NY — As economic pressures continue to intensify for working families across the region, the Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition (HCHC) will host the second installment of its coordinated regional mutual aid food distributions on Friday, December 12, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Building on the impact of the first regional action, HCHC is once again mobilizing community partners to provide direct relief while organizing for long-term change.

In collaboration with local organizations and The People’s Table, HCHC will distribute free food, hygiene supplies, and essential items at simultaneous sites in Albany, Hudson, and Catskill. The effort responds to rising grocery costs, shrinking public benefits, and growing housing instability that are forcing families into impossible choices between food, rent, and healthcare.

“This work is about more than meeting an urgent need., It’s about building collective care and collective power,” said Shirle Cross, Co-Founder and Board Member of the Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition. “Our communities are being stretched thin, and HCHC is committed to showing up in real ways while continuing to fight for the systemic changes our neighbors deserve.”

In addition to food and supplies, each site will share housing resources, tenant organizing opportunities, and pathways for community members to get involved in ongoing advocacy and mutual aid efforts. This dual approach reflects HCHC’s philosophy that community care and long-term, movement-building must happen together.

As federal safety net programs face ongoing rollbacks and the cost of living continues to rise, HCHC leaders emphasize that mutual aid cannot replace public responsibility, but it can demonstrate what is possible when communities organize to meet their own needs and demand accountability from those in power.

“Even with food stamps, things cost more,” said Kayah Payton, Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition board member. “You’re not getting more food stamps. You have to stretch that small amount even further.”

Event Details: The People Feed the People

Friday, December 12, 2025, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Albany, NY
HCHC and The People’s Table, in collaboration with Black Abolitionist Directive (BAD) and We Are Revolutionary (WAR), present The People Feed the People for the Albany community.
Location: Corner of Elm Street and Eagle Street, Albany, NY

Hudson, NY
Feed the Belly, in collaboration with HCHC and The People’s Table, present The People Feed the People for the Hudson community.
Location: Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, 1 North Front St, Hudson, NY

Catskill, NY
HCHC, in collaboration with Cache and Hop-O-Nose Homes, present The People Feed the People for the Village of Catskill community.
Location: Hop-O-Nose Homes, 45 Hill Street, Catskill, NY

As the holiday season approaches, millions of families will gather around tables that are increasingly difficult to fill. HCHC’s second regional distribution reinforces the organization’s long-standing commitment to housing justice, food access, and community-led solutions across the Hudson Valley and Capital Region.

HCHC plans to continue expanding this work through future mass distributions, deeper grassroots organizing, and sustained regional collaboration to ensure families are supported not just in moments of crisis, but over the long term.

Community members are encouraged to attend, volunteer, and contribute to support this effort.

For more information or to get involved, visit: https://www.hudsoncatskillhousing.org

About the Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition

The Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition is a Black-led nonprofit advancing housing justice, education equity, and criminal justice reform across the Hudson Valley and Capital Region. HCHC leads the Albany Free School and works across generations to build grassroots power through organizing, advocacy, and cultural programming. In partnership with community members, HCHC creates space for Black, Brown, low-income, and working-class families to thrive.

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Media Contact:
Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition
communications@hudsoncatskillhousing.org