Submitted photo Sen. George Borrello and Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz distribute food to local residents earlier this month in Queens.

State Sen. George Borrello was taking a page from U.S. Rep. Tom Reed’s playbook. In order to make things happen, do it collaboratively and for the greater good.

In this instance, it was a perfect and unlikely match. Republican and upstate representative Borrello teamed with a downstate Democrat in Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz to work on a measure that would establish a permanent program for distributing surplus agricultural products to food banks, similar to the Nourish New York model.

Launched in April due to the surge of people in need at food banks across the state, as well as the hardships facing farmers affected by supply chain disruptions, Nourish New York has already assisted Chautauqua County Rural Ministry in Dunkirk in serving approximately 4,000 meals weekly using agricultural products through the program. “The COVID-19 crisis has reminded us that many families are just a paycheck or two away from food insecurity,” Borrello said earlier this month. “Data indicates that since the pandemic, approximately one in 10 state residents have become food insecure, with a quarter of those reporting this was a new problem for their households. The economic recovery for many of these struggling New Yorkers will extend beyond the pandemic, which is why it is critical that we commit now, to permanently establish and expand through legislation, food relief programs like Nourish New York, which benefit both our farmers and those in need.”

Chautauqua County is well aware of the benefits Borrello brings to his constituents. He offered excellent representation as a legislator in Hanover for four terms and brought tremendous leadership as an executive for less than two years.

Working in Albany, however, is a gut check. That has been a bit of a grind on Borrello, who is a perfectionist and used his communication talents to get things done here at home.

But that is not the capital culture. Democrats rule the roost while calling the shots. Having accomplishments occur five hours away from home where egos drive decision making requires a plethora of praise for those in power while keeping in tune with the party line.

Borrello does not fit that mold, but he’s always been generous with his time and resources to many area causes. That’s why his effort with Cruz deserves accolades. “While the districts that Senator Borrello and I represent are hundreds of miles apart, our constituents share commonality in their dependence on each other for survival,” said Cruz, D-Queens.

Compromise can be contagious — and powerful. Nowhere else is that more evident today than in our nation’s capital.

Four years ago, Reed was beginning to tout a group of national representatives like him who were looking to achieve some middle ground in the Problem Solvers Caucus. From the start, the group that was looking to end gridlock in Washington had its doubters.

“You may not agree with the philosophy they are deploying in order to get there, but if their intentions are good from a common ground and we treat each other with respect as Americans and are truly open to the debate, that to me is going to unite the country, not divide it,” Reed said during a forum on poverty that was held in Dunkirk.

During the last election campaign, a number of Democrats in District 23, which spans 11 Southern Tier counties, including Chautauqua, did their best to disparage the effort. Their take simply was this group had not done enough to warrant credit for bringing both sides together.

Perspectives have changed greatly since early December. Caucus members have been at the forefront of getting the $900 billion COVID relief package completed before the new year. Though not perfect, it still brought funding and aid to segments of the community and America’s economy that continue to struggle.

Caucus leadership of Reed and U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey also were two of the nation’s shining stars on one of our darkest days. On Jan. 6, the two stood side-by-side on the floor of the House of Representatives hours after the assault on the Capitol building in a show of unity.

Exactly three weeks later, Reed — during a conference call with area media — still cannot contain his enthusiasm when discussing the 48-member group that is driven by an attitude and mission. “We are so happy and relieved that we put ourselves in a position … to be a resource that the country I think is begging for and also thank God, we are in a position to function and break the gridlock at a time when the country needs that gridlock to be broken more than ever. … This is true public service as its best.”

Washington has been the poster child for political division. Albany’s split is simpler — upstate and downstate — but just as diverse. If Borrello can master moving to the middle — as we know he has done here — this county and region stands to benefit. Greatly.

John D’Agostino is the editor of the OBSERVER, The Post-Journal and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 366-3000, ext. 253.