Inmate garden supports local food pantry in Corning

Correction: A previous version of this story had the incorrect spelling of Linnea Shumway’s name.

CORNING, N.Y. ( WETM ) — The Corning Community Food Pantry receives more than 200 pounds of vegetables. The bounty of vegetables was grown by inmates and staff at the garden of the Steuben County Jail.

Last week the Steuben County Jail began donating vegetables to the Corning Community Food Pantry. According to Linnea Shumway, food service director at the Steuben County Jail, they donate to the food pantry once a week and the garden has produced more food this year than ever.

“Peppers have been superabundant, cucumbers are doing really well. We didn’t get that frost in April like we did the past two years, so everything is thriving,” said Shumway.

Shumway added they will donate tomatoes and corn in the next couple of weeks. This week the jail surpassed its first donation of 150 pounds. One of the pantry volunteers, Steuben County Legislator Hilda Lando appreciates the support the jail has provided to assist families.

“We are going to be able to give food to so many people based on what we just received. We went through everything and it’s good timing because we’ve been really busy and now we have more to give out to our families,” said Lando.

Shumway hopes the jail will reach its goal of 1,000 pounds of donated vegetables by year-end. No matter what, it will continue donating vegetables until it runs out.

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