TROY — Residents at the Edward A. Kane Senior Apartments take their pick of free vegetables each Wednesday thanks to a partnership with the Salvation Army and the Fifth Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church.
Volunteers bring produce from the Salvation Army’s food pantry, supplied by the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, to the community room at Kane each Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon.
The church hopes to gradually expand the initiative to all THA sites in the coming months. Rev. Oscar McLaughlin, pastor of the church, serves as a commissioner on the THA Board.
The Salvation Army also has free produce available to the public on Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at their location at 410 River Street.
The program began Nov. 11.  On Nov. 18, approximately 20 residents collected free veggies. Kane houses just over 60 individuals. Residents say the free veggies help them save money, time and travel One resident said they probably eat healthier because of the initiative.
“Through the winter you don’t have to go out in the cold,” said Audrey Roberts, a resident at Kane. “There are so many people that are in need of this.”
The produce included sweet potatoes, apples, mushrooms, tomatoes, turnips, lemons, limes, cucumbers, onions, bananas, carrots and more.