Dutchess Outreach has operated emergency food access and relief programs and services in Dutchess County for more than 46 years. It exists and was created to help lift people out of poverty by providing food access and emergency relief programs and services. Among its programs, Dutchess Outreach operates The Lunch Box which provides hot midday and evening meals five days a week to hundreds of area residents each year; The Beverly H. Closs food pantry, The Dutchess Outreach Fresh Market, and The Farm Stand which distributes fruits and vegetable free of charge once a month. During the first 10 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, crisis, the food pantry provided more than 20,500 meals to neighbors in need by way of grocery packages for pickup and delivery, averaging around 600 plus meals a day. The Lunch Box hot meal program served over 15.000 prepared meals to go and to temporary housing unit shelters.