Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York BackPack Program

Lawrence "Larry" Schillinger is the President of the Board of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. In 2015 the Regional Food Bank provided over 35 million pounds of food and other essential products to 1,000 member agencies, enough for 29 million meals to those in need Meanwhile, the Regional Food Bank's BackPack Program expanded to 115 schools to serve over 3,000 school children who are challenged by food insecurity.

During Schillinger's tenure as President of the Board the Regional Food Bank obtained financing and project management for the installation of solar energy arrays at both of the Regional Food Bank's locations. Solar panels, now being installed at the Regional Food Bank's distribution facilities in Cornwall and Latham NY, will promote long-term financial savings, help combat climate change and contribute to environmental health and protection. 

Under Schillinger's leadership the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York is spearheading a $2 million capital campaign to expand the Regional Food Bank's Latham distribution facility and executive offices. This capital program will enable the Food Bank to better serve the agencies which operate food pantries and feeding centers, and continue to grow the highly successful "backpack" program for elementary school children and their families.

Environmental Challenges of the Capital Region of the New York League

Lawrence “Larry” Schillinger is a proud graduate of the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law, having had the good fortune of attending UNC when Michael Jordan and James Worthy, coached by the legendary Dean Smith, led the Tar Heels to their first NCAA National Championship.

Schillinger has been in the forefront of environmental law and policy throughout his stellar career. Schillinger pioneered national model legislation in the 1980’s as Counsel for Energy and the Environment in the New York State Assembly. Since 1988, Schillinger has represented New York’s recycling industry before all levels of government, while providing regulatory compliance guidance to the recycling industry on environmental, occupational health and safety matters. Schillinger is a recognized national expert in the areas of organics recovery, composting, and electronic scrap recycling.

Throughout his career Schillinger has been instrumental in the development of thousands of tons of recycling capacity throughout the State of New York. Today, Lawrence Schillinger remains a leader in the environmental movement. Chairing the Capital Region Board of the New York League of Conservation Voters he leads the effort to develop and implement policies in the areas of sustainability, environmental protection and climate change.

BackPack Program at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York

Attorney Lawrence Schillinger practices at his private firm in Albany, New York, where he focuses on environmental matters. Lawrence Schillinger concurrently serves as president of the board of directors for the Regional food Bank of Northeastern New York

The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York has been a source of both food and hope for people in need since 1982. The organization collects and distributes more than 30 million pounds of food each year to support people in 23 counties.

Some students in the Northeastern New York community live with food insecurity. They generally qualify for free meals at school, but they may not have enough to eat over their weekends. To help these students thrive, the Regional Food Bank operates a special BackPack Program to discreetly supply them with food.

Qualifying students receive a backpack on Friday afternoons. These packs are filled with nutritious snacks, canned entrees, juice boxes, and other staples. The selection is different each week to offer a variety. The BackPack Program currently reaches more than 3,500 students in New York, and is growing stronger each year.

Common Grilling Mistakes Beginners Make

Lawrence Schillinger maintains a law practice in Albany, New York, and possesses more than two decades of experience in matters of environmental compliance and government relations. In his leisure time, Lawrence Schillinger engages in numerous hobbies and is an avid fan of outdoor grilling.

For many, one of the most enjoyable (and competitive) forms of cooking is grilling. There are national contests each year to determine the best grillmasters, and this cooking technique is one of the most beloved among those ranging from artisan chefs to novice cooks. Beginners at the grill, however, can sometimes make missteps. Below are two common mistakes that novice grillers should try to avoid.

Don’t use match-light coals or lighter fluid to start up the fire. It can be tempting to use these tools to get a flame going quickly, and there’s no shortage of these products found in grilling aisles at stores. These quick fixes are not helpful, though, because no sooner than the fire bursts to life, it subsides and often dies. Worse yet, any food that made it onto the grill tastes like gasoline. Instead of using these products, place coals on top of crumpled newspaper. Then, set the newspaper on fire, which will in turn light the coals.

Another mistake beginners make is failing to preheat the grill. Once the fire is going, one should wait at least 15 minutes before putting anything on the grill to avoid cooking foods when the temperature isn’t high enough. For low-and-slow cooking, aim for a temperature of about 200 degrees before putting food on the grill. For normal foods, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, etc., temperatures in the 300-400 degree range should be adequate.

Lawrence R. Schillinger

Lawrence R. Schillinger is an environmental attorney and entrepreneur based in Albany, New York. In the mid-1980’s Schillinger served as Counsel for Energy and the Environment to the Speaker of the New York State Assembly. He has served as Environmental Compliance and Government Relations Counsel to the Institute of Scrap Recycling industries (ISRI) New York and Empire Chapters since 1988. Schillinger is also president of Schillinger Environmental Associates, a multi-disciplinary environmental consulting firm, and is the founder and president of Green Recycled Organics LLC, a start-up business in the composting industry. He holds a BA in Environmental Planning from the University of Buffalo and a JD from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Hurdles to New York’s Adoption of Solar Rooftop Panels

Well established as an Albany, New York, attorney, Lawrence Schillinger focuses on issues of government relations and environmental compliance. A longstanding member of the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV), Lawrence Schillinger chairs the Capital Region chapter of an organization that seeks to address diverse sustainability issues facing state residents and ecosystems.

One major issue New York is currently grappling with is how to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Governor Cuomo’s recently developed Reforming the Energy Vision plan lays out an ambitious goal of reaching 50 percent renewably sourced electricity by 2030, with solar energy a being a vital part of that.

Unfortunately, despite a tax-incentive driven push toward solar that has led to a nearly 600 percent increase in solar adoption since 2011, rooftop panels are not yet common statewide. A major issue identified by NYLCV goes beyond installation costs and involves the sheer number of permit-related obstacles that must be overcome before approval. Permitting steps span the Department of Building, Con Edison, and the fire department. In addition, there are property tax abatement applications that involve an entirely separate process.