Prabhuji Mission expands emergency food assistance

ROUND TOP―The Prabhuji Mission Food Pantry assists around 80 households each week, providing free boxes full of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products and more. Now, thanks to a grant from the Regional Food Bank, they can serve even more people.

The $40,000 in funding, part of the Regional Food Bank's FoodForward program, allowed the Prabhuji Mission on Route 31 in Round Top to purchase a new refrigerated truck that will help them support an estimated 25% more community members compared to 2025.

"We launched this pantry in 2014 because of the persistent and ever-growing need for food assistance in our region," said Swami Ramananda, director of the Prabhuji Mission Food Pantry.

From January through July of 2026, they served 12,279 people.

“This support from the Regional Food Bank has been essential to the efficiency of our pantry and serving more residents who need reliable access to nutritious food,” said Ramananda.

The T-600R Thermo King refrigerated truck helps expand capacity, reduce volunteer strain, and eliminate the process of double handling or loading and unloading foods from non-refrigerated vehicles to a trailer.

FoodForward is a capacity building grant program, designed to address food insecurity and improve food distribution. The program was started in 2024 to encourage Food Bank agency partners through the 23-county service area to expand operations and develop innovative solutions reaching more neighbors in need. The range of initiatives includes expanding food rescue programs, launching mobile food pantries, acquiring freezers, increasing access to culturally relevant food options, establishing pantries in food deserts, and more.

"The upgrades at the Prabhuji Mission Food Pantry will maximize the efforts to meet the rising demand in neighboring communities and throughout Greene County," said Tom Nardacci, CEO of the Regional Food Bank.

"Through the FoodForward program, the Food Bank is able to support our partner agencies by supporting necessary and creative solutions that our agency partners like the Prabhuji Mission work toward to fight hunger and reduce food insecurity,” Narsacci added.

Prabhuji Mission Food Pantry is operated by the Monastic disciples of the Prabhuji Ashram with the help of a team of local volunteers. Since the pandemic, they have operated as a drive-up service. Dates and times of weekly distributions, typically held on Wednesday or Friday mornings, can be found on their Facebook page.

"Expanding the capacity of our pantry has allowed us to support so many more people and ensure they receive quality food,” Ramananda said.