Bill Williams is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media 24 pallets of food, enough for 700 families, was distributed Mon., Aug. 31, during the Community Partnership drive-thru food distribution in Chatham. The turnout was so great that some families had to be turned away, Chatham village Mayor John Howe said. Twice as many families lined up for the event than did for the first area food distribution in late May, Howe said. Organizers ran out of food shortly after 1 p.m., and some families had to be turned away, he said. Meat, dairy, produce and non-perishable food was distributed. The mass food distribution was coordinated by the Regional Food Bank of Upstate N.Y., Catholic Charities Mobile Outreach and the food pantries of Chatham, Ghent and Valatie. The jobless rates in Columbia and Greene counties remain high, with many families struggling to make ends meet. Organizers are considering the possibility of holding another mass food distribution in the area, but it was unclear if they would be able to do so before the end of the year. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.