Town clerk’s food drive

A bounty of donations

By FRITZ MAYER

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Like many public officials, Tess McBeath, town clerk of the Town of Delaware, was worried about how people are going to heat their homes this winter. With the price of oil and gas soaring over last year’s level, some residents may have to choose between heating and eating.

McBeath’s response, and that of the other town clerks in the 15 towns in the county, was to run food drives that would replenish the county’s food pantries.

McBeath said she was amazed by the response from residents and businesses. She was especially gratified that Pecks Markets gave such a large donation. “They brought 12 cases of stuff: raisin bran, peanut butter and jelly, all kinds of stuff,” she said.

McBeath also said residents gave a wide variety of food. “It’s not all just pasta and sauce; I think people went shopping especially for this event.

The food drive ran through the month of September, but some clerks are going to keep their drives going longer.

Rita Sheehan, Bethel’s town clerk, said she would keep the donations in place through the end of January. She said in her town the press releases took a while to work but, “the food is coming in nicely now.”

Meanwhile, donations to the county’s food pantry are always welcome.

Sullivan County food pantries

Town of Bethel: Faith Ministries of White Lake Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Blessing/Shepard’s Pantry, open on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and the 4th Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Located across from Bethel Medical Center on Route 17B.

Town of Callicoon: St. George’s Roman Catholic Church, 97 Schoolhouse Hill Road, Jeffersonville. Open second Thursday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Towns of Cochecton and Tusten: Narrowsburg Ecumenical Food Pantry, St. Francis Catholic Church on Route 52, open on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Town of Delaware: Blessing Pantry and Callicoon Methodist Church pantry, Route 97, open 2nd and 4th Thursday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Towns of Forestburgh and Thompson: Federation for the Homeless, 9 Monticello St., Monticello. Call 794-2604 for hours and days. Open every Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Town of Fremont: Blessing’s Hankins Pantry, 14 County Route 132, Hankins. Open first and third Thursdays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Town of Highland: Saint Anthony’s Church, 25 Beaverbrook Road, Yulan. Open Mondays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

Town of Lumberland: Pond Eddy United Methodist Church, 580 Berme Church Road, Pond Eddy. Call 856-1129 for information.

Town of Neversink: Grahamsville United Methodist Church. Call 985-2283 for information.

Town of Mamakating: Saint Joseph’s Church (888-4522) and Community Church (888-5626) both located in Wurtsboro. Our Lady of Assumption Church (733-1477) located in Bloomingburg. Call for information/hours.

Town of Rockland: Roscoe Presbyterian Church, call 498-5409 for information, or the Livingston Manor Methodist Church, call 439-4143 for information.