(PHOTO: Pasquale Falco and Giovanni Holguin with a team from the Rye YMCA Togetherhood committee. Contributed.)
Giving Rye is a feature series highlighting non-profits and community groups in and around the City of Rye. Today meet Pasquale Falco of the Giving Tree Global “Bread of Life.”
Your Name: Pasquale Falco
Name of your organization: Giving Tree Global “Bread of Life”
Your role: Founder
MyRye.com: Tell us your organization’s mission
Falco: We are committed to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and to demonstrating the love of God in a tangible way by providing food, clothing, prayer, and hope for those in need.
How long have you operated in or around Rye?
Falco: We were officially founded in 2014 in Rye and have been operating for over 12 years.
What programming or work is the organization best known for?
Falco: We are best known for our Bread of Life Feeding program which entails food rescue seven days per week and our two food pantry distributions.
- Food Rescue. We rescue food seven days a week and deliver free of charge to 15 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and low income senior centers. We rescue approximately 63,000 pounds of food per week.
- Our Rye Food Pantry distribution which takes place on alternate Mondays in Rye. This pantry serves about 2,300 people.
- Our weekly food pantry distribution which takes place Saturday mornings in White Plains. This pantry serves approximately 2,000 people.
Looking forward to 2026, what will be your top initiatives?
Falco:
- Expand our food rescue and delivery locations as the need is very great right now.
- Provide more opportunities for our food recipients to receive prayer as many are facing hopelessness right now.
- We would like to be able to connect our food recipients with employment opportunities.
Tell us about the population you serve and how they can get involved with your programming and services.
Falco: We serve the working poor, single mothers, veterans, the elderly, and children. Anyone in need may simply come to one of our food pantries. We are an emergency food pantry as well. Anyone in dire need of food may call the number on our website and arrange an appointment to pick up food in case of emergency.
Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status?
Falco: Yes
Looking back across 2025, what were your organization’s top achievements?
Falco: We have loved our clients well and provided hope and help, particularly to seniors. We have served everyone in need who has come to us and been part of the solution to the problem of hunger.
- We have served many senior citizen centers with food, prayer, and gifts.
- We have provided hundreds of bags of children’s clothing for those in need.
- We involve the youth in all we do because we believe in modeling compassion.
How can local residents support your organization?
Falco: We are in need of financial support, [and] people who will partner with us in helping to provide food and hope to the hungry. We welcome volunteers to pack bags and distribute food at our pantries.
What local Rye residents and area businesses have been the longest, steadiest supporters of your organization?
Falco: Valtori Pizza Kitchen, Al Dente, the Kavanagh family, the Wexler family, the Spinola family and many, many more!
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
Falco: Since 2013 when I began rescuing food with my own truck.
Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer?
Falco: Full-time volunteer
How would your friends and family describe you in one word?
Falco: Love
Where did you grow up?
Falco: White Plains (I wish I had grown up in Sardinia)
What principles guide you when you have to make a difficult decision?
Falco: Prayer, my faith in Jesus, and the Word of God.
Can you share a time when failure taught you more than success ever could?
Falco: My wife told me to go to a particular dealership to purchase our new van. I didn’t listen to her sound advice. I have had numerous problems with this dealership. I learned to listen to her and- happy wife, happy life!
What excites you most about the future—for yourself or for the world?
Falco: I look forward every day to sharing the good news of Jesus.
Where do you live and how many years have you lived there?
Falco: We have lived on Orchard Avenue for 28 years.
Thanks Pasquale!
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