Albany community organizations form coalition to provide resources for the community

ALBANY (WRGB) - - - As violence continues to grip the City of Albany, several community outreach organizations are banding together to be part of the solution.

Bridge Tha Gap Executive Director Eva Bass says “We all play a part in this big puzzle. Together, our resources and our abilities in the things that we can offer are going to have the maximum impact in our communities."

The West Hill Community Development Coalition is committed to creating change and positivity in the most violent stricken areas of the city.

Eden's Rose Foundation Executive Director Gregory Sheldon says, “We need long-term systemic programs that are built by, for, and with the direction from community members themselves - that's how we start building ourselves up!"

Monday-Thursday from 12:00PM to 4:00PM, a white tent is set up for those in the community to come and get fresh, free produce.

The pandemic produce stand is located at 579 Clinton Avenue, better known as the Albany Victory Gardens.

“These beautiful gardens, really, should've been houses and the fact that they're vacant lots is not something we're proud of. We're trying to do the best with the situation that we have at hand,” replied Sheldon.

While you’re picking out fruits and veggies of your choosing, you’ll see some of Albany’s younger residents putting in work behind the scenes.

“We partnered with the City of Albany to have Summer Youth Employees to be a part of our program. We teach them how to love their own community and how to give back and how important it is for them to be a part of positive change in their community,” said Bass.

The outreach doesn’t stop with the mentor ship and access to food, the coalition is also working to connect community members with different resources in the community.

"We work together by creating opportunities and education to our community on beautification, education, and growth,” added Bass.

"Projects like this, news attention looking at the right things that community members are doing...that empowers people. If you keep telling someone they're bad...they're going to act bad!" said Sheldon.