BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – A longtime Northside Binghamton business is continuing its tradition of helping to address hunger in its neighborhood.
Kurt Eschbach, owner of Hopler and Eschbach Funeral Home, presented the Greater Good Grocery on State Street with a $3,000 check today.
Greater Good Grocery is a program of the Broome County Council of Churches which seeks to provide lower cost food and fresh produce in what is otherwise a food desert.
Eschbach, who makes charitable donations of up to $50,000 each year, says this is the only one where people stop him on the street to thank him.
“I’ll be outside walking my dog or just doing some work around the business, and someone will stop by and say, ‘Thank you for helping with the groceries, it makes a difference for our family.’ When we see that and when we are witness to the problems that are going on in our community, the need, it makes me more committed to try and do something about it,” said Eschbach.
This is the third year that Eschbach, who serves on the Greater Good Grocery board, has donated to the store.
The money will support its Double Up Food Bucks program which matches up to $20 spent per visit on purchases made with SNAP benefits.
General Manager Kinya Middleton says it’s more impactful than you might think.
“We essentially give you our money, and you can spend it in the store to extend your budget. A lot of people use it toward the end of the month when they’re waiting for their new benefits to come in,” said Middleton.
Middleton says Greater Good Grocery began accepting WIC benefits last month and plans to eventually accept them in its mobile food bus as well.
The store is located at 435 State Street in Canal Plaza.