Facilitating safe community connection amid COVID-19

REGIONAL — The Rotary clubs of Liberty, Monticello and Livingston Manor have teamed up to support the staff of Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC) and local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This effort to support the community has culminated in a program that provides fresh meals from local restaurants to each department and shift in the hospital on a rotating basis. Each day, meals are provided by a different restaurant. As of April 7, the Monticello Bagel Bakery, the New Munson Diner, Liberty Diner & Restaurant, Star Bar and Grill, Miss Monticello Diner, Yanni’s Gyro Express Café and Liberty Market  have participated; Rotary members have also prepared homemade meals. Meals are pre-portioned, individually packaged and delivered twice a day by Rotary Club members.

“It started with the idea of the club choosing a restaurant to support and everyone ordering takeout while identifying themselves as Liberty Rotary Club members so the restaurant knew,” wrote Liberty Rotary Club President William Silver in an email. “At the same time, Rotary District 7210 put out a notice that clubs could redirect unspent district grant money to address COVID-19 needs in their communities, and CFOS put out a notice that they were offering grants of up to $5,000 to support local efforts.”

This project is supported by donations received online by more than, so far, 75 local residents and grants from the COVID-19 Recovery Fund at the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS), the Liberty NY Rotary Club Foundation Fund at CFOS, and donations from both the Livingston Manor and Monticello Rotary Clubs.

To donate to Operation Feed, visit www.bit.ly/cfosoperationfeed.

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