Cardinal Dolan Blesses Food Pantry's Garden

From CCS Rockland: His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, was the guest of honor at the recent Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland annual Blessing of the Soil family event on April 28th.

When the Cardinal arrived, he spent thirty minutes greeting those in attendance and getting a tour of the Inspiration and Meditation Garden, the murals that were painted by students over the years, the food pantry, the outdoor vegetable garden, and the new greenhouse located on the land adjacent to the Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland building. The Cardinal spoke to attendees pointing out the significance of the project and its positive impact on those in need.

“This day was the culmination of a dream that started several years ago when we had the idea that the people who use our food pantry should be eating healthier and that the land that we own should be used in a more productive way. The vegetable garden was the first logical step and last year we had the idea to add a greenhouse, so we could grow fresh produce all year long. Having Cardinal Dolan here to bless the soil and the new greenhouse was an honor that none of us will forget,” stated Martha Robles, Director of Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland.

This event also featured activities and refreshments thanks to the generosity of the sponsors which included WMC Health/Good Samaritan Hospital, United Healthcare, Fidelis Care, Apple Bank, Sterling National Bank, Dominican College, Wegmans, The Home Depot, Union Restaurant, Berard & Associates, and Michael’s.

Martha Robles had the initial vision and secured a grant through NYS Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski. She then brought together a team to install the greenhouse and managed to get nearly everything else donated. “One of our missions is to raise awareness about hunger and food insecurity in Rockland and bring fresh produce to our participants. The goal is to use the garden and the greenhouse to not only provide fresh produce all year long, but to offer educational opportunities to teach children and adults about farming, the value of growing and eating fresh vegetables, and the positive environmental impact of growing your own food,” stated Robles. Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland often hosts demonstrations to show participants how to cook the various vegetables harvested from the garden. It is a successful prototype of a ‘Farm to Food Pantry’ model.

“I was pleased to be able to secure state funding for this groundbreaking and innovative greenhouse project. The new greenhouse will transform Catholic Charities from a traditional food pantry to a self-sustaining farming initiative that will feed residents throughout the county. This sustainable approach will both promote healthy living and fight hunger insecurity in Rockland,” said Assemblyman Zebrowski.

In an average year CCCSR serves:

• 115,000+ meals distributed to over 1,500 households including 6,052 adults, 588 elderly and over 5,029 children from the Food Pantry.

• 4,000 pounds of fresh vegetables are distributed to Food Pantry participants from the Community Garden of Love.

• 40+ dedicated volunteers help to prepare, bag and distribute food

• 408 families enrolled in the Food Pantry Program, totaling over 1,500 individuals.

Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland provides services to people of all ages, from every race and ethnic group from all over the County. The organization’s focus is to provide life necessities, including food, shelter and other emergency assistance to those in need. The compassionate and professional staff speak English, Spanish, French and Creole, and assist people of all ages, races and religions in Rockland County. “CCCSR envisions a Rockland County where all individuals have the basic necessities – food, shelter and help in time of crisis in order to reach their full potential and lead a life of dignity.” More information can be found at www.ccsrockland.org or by calling (845) 942-5791.

Image Via CCS Rockland