NOTE FOR JULY & AUGUST 2010
Thank you very much to the Rondout Valley High School teachers, administrators, staff and students for sponsoring the seventh annual Empty Bowls dinner on April 29, 2010. Contributions were made to the three local food pantries; our portion is $2530 and we are very grateful. The May donations were low and we had to take funds from our reserve account to pay our food bills. The summer months are traditionally low-income months for us, but the demand may be even higher because children are home from school and not receiving free breakfast and lunch through certain school programs. Please remember the Food Pantry during the summer months. Our food needs for summer: juice boxes for children, cereal, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, paper products and picnic supplies.
Thank you, Rita & Grace and all our volunteers
RONDOUT VALLEY FOOD PANTRY
Rev. Deacon Judith Borzumato
In the beginning was the damp cellar–that is, the moist cellar of the Rectory at the Church of Christ the King. With the rector’s approval and the help of one of the original founders of the Rondout Valley Food Pantry–Erica Greer– we managed to stock our simple wood and metal shelving with the basics in order to feed the hungry in our area. We were soon stocked with peanut butter, jelly, pasta, and other basic goods.
The location in the basement meant that we and our helpers would often get a pretty good workout, first by stocking the shelves and second by carrying the bags up the stairs to the waiting cars or delivery truck.
The word began to spread that the RVFP was open for business and would attempt to meet the needs of those who required temporary assistance with food. The word-of-mouth campaign was assisted not only by the clients but also by those people in other local churches who agreed to help us in contributing food and in distributing the food on our appointed days. This was the beginning of a truly ecumenical ministry in the Rondout Valley. No single person or church claimed identity with the Pantry. Rather, it became our way of seeing Christ in our brothers and sisters in need.
Those early days at the Pantry were successful because of the dedication and work of a number of early volunteers, those who joined us and not only participated, but made the Pantry an important part of our ministry. These incredible early helpers included Fran Ryder, the late Ed Webber, Joan Pugliese, Betty Young, Martha & Enzo Brittell, Lucy Karmas, Barbara Scanlon, Cathy Fitzgerald and our devoted shopper and packer-- Marge Sutton. Pat Boyer’s kindness and humor allowed her to put up with my eccentric bank account-balancing skills! Her husband Bob enjoyed making holiday deliveries with Joan Pugliese.
As we grew, thanks to the assistance of local churches as well as social agencies and schools, we also expanded our offerings on Thanksgiving and Christmas. We were eventually able to provide Thanksgiving meals and Christmas gifts for the children of many of our clients.
It was during these early times at Thanksgiving that we earned our Baptism of water. During a heavy and cold rainstorm, our volunteers (ably assisted by Dick Davenport and many local Boy Scouts) were able to slog our way through the packaging and delivering of many Thanksgiving meals. I remember that the rain water was seeping through the foundation. We had to keep our supplies above the water line while the dampness covered everything but our spirits!
It was during this era that the CTK Youth Group would often participate in our holiday work by cooking many pumpkin pies for inclusion in the Thanksgiving (or Christmas) deliveries.
As the pantry grew, our volunteer staff also grew and multiplied. Added to our crew were the following: Tana Miller, Joan Westover, Sylvia Herrington, Carol Snykus, and Willey Staubley. We felt that we had become a useful part of the church’s mission. We also developed a team spirit and shared some wonderful and interesting times; we had become a family. Ed Webber, for example, because of his background as a dispatcher with Kingston Oil Supply Company, showed us how to pack a small pickup truck in an appropriate manner–so that the delivered food could be accessed from the back of his truck in the order of delivery. Larry Borzumato, who often accompanied Ed, would frequently express appreciation for Ed’s skills–not to mention the fact that Ed would use delivery shortcuts to clients that would save time and effort. Ed loved this ministry and we all loved Ed.
I should also mention the financial generosity of so many parishioner at CTK as well as contributors from the other area churches. I was always grateful for Ferris Cook, who was available whenever we needed her help. All of these people contributed to making the RVFP a welcoming, safe place for the people who came to us–sometimes in need of a hug and to be listened to as much as they needed food.
Eventually, Rod Basten came to the point in his life when he retired from the Rondout Valley School system. He and Lourd became organizers and coordinators of the management of the Pantry. Thanks go also to Rita Beil and Grace Terwilliger, who took over coordination of the pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There are many more people who should be mentioned in this summary–I send my apologies to those whom I have inadvertently omitted.
Eventually, the RVFP was physically “raised up” to the ground floor (its current location) and was dedicated to the memory of Beth Lewis. The work continues . . .
It’s difficult to find the words to tell you how much I miss a ministry that was such a fundamental part of my life.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord, Deacon Judith
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