Rockland Hunger-Relief Agency Earns National 4-Star Rating

A four-star rating means a restaurant is among the best of the best, and a four-star rating for Rockland’s People to People means the hunger-relief organization is among the most efficient charities in the United States, says Rockland County Legislature Chairman Alden H. Wolfe.

The rating underscores what many in Rockland already know about People to People, Wolfe said in a prepared statement.

Wolfe congratulated the charity - including Executive Director Diane Serratore, the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers - for earning a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, the major charity evaluator in the nation.

The score - the highest rating issued by the evaluator - means People to People has demonstrated that it adheres to good governance and other best practices. People to People minimizes the chance of unethical activities while consistently executing its mission in a fiscally responsible manner, according to Ken Berger, President and CEO of Charity Navigator.

“People to People does a fantastic job of feeding our neighbors during struggling times,” Wolfe said. “We have known how serious the agency takes its job and how hard it works to ensure that as many resources aspossible are directed to helping people versus paying for overhead costs. This rating proves People to People is the job and doing it exceedingly well.”

Only about a quarter of the 8,198 charities evaluated by Charity Navigator earned the highest score, according to the organization.

People to People provides more than 1,400 Rockland households with groceries, produce, dairy and meat or poultry products each month. The agency also helps an ever-increasing number of local residents through difficult times with dignity by providing clothing, school supplies, holiday gifts and more.

The organization is slated to receive $22,571 from Rockland County in 2016 to assist the agency’s efforts.

PHOTO: Rockland County Legislators Alden H. Wolfe and Aney Paul helped People to People Executive Director Diane Serratore pack donations into the agency’s van last month after a successful winter coat drive by the legislators/contributed