TRI-STATE REGION — Local food pantries are always a critical element of the community support network, but as many struggle to deal with the challenges that have come with the COVID-19 health crisis, the need is greater than ever. In addition to regular support, some pantries are also assisting families who are quarantining or isolating due to the virus.
Most pantries are in need of donations but are generally not taking new volunteers due to the concerns of spreading the virus.
The following information is accurate as of press time, but as the situation evolves, some changes may go into effect. To continue to inform the community of these vital services, The Millerton News has been publishing an updated list of our regional food pantries and their needs periodically in our newspaper and on our website, www.tricornernews.com.
Millerton
Location: First Presbyterian Church of Millerton, 58 Main St. Phone: 518-592-1165. Hours: Call for emergency. Residency requirements: Live in Millerton or North East. Volunteers needed: No. Donations: P.O. Box 429, Millerton, NY 12546.
Location: North East Community Center (NECC), 51 South Center St. Phone: 518-789-4259, ext. 124 (English) or 125 (Spanish). Email: foodaccess@neccmillerton.org. Hours: Every Thursday, 2 to 4 p.m. Residency requirements: None. Deliveries also made to Millerton, North East, Dover, Amenia and Wassaic. Other locations may pick up at the NECC. Volunteers needed: Drivers in the future. Donations: Yes, especially diapers and wipes.
Location: Little Library Pantry at Veterans Park, at the intersection of Main Street and Dutchess Avenue. Hours 24/7. Take what you need, leave what you can. Also, NorthEast-Millerton Library, 75 Main St. Phone: 518-789-3340. Food and household items by request to: www.nemillertonlibrary.org. Residency requirements: No. Volunteers needed: No. Donations needed: Yes, online or to P.O. Box 786, Millerton, NY 12546.
Amenia
Location: Immaculate Conception-St. Anthony’s Parish Catholic Church, 11 Lavelle Road. Phone: 845-373-8193. Hours: Third Saturday of the month. Hours: 10 to 10:30 a.m. Residency requirements: No. Volunteers needed: No. Donations needed: Yes.
Amenia Union
Location: St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 40 Leedsville Road. Phone: 845-373-9161. Hours: Fridays, 3 to 5 p.m. Residency requirements: None. Volunteers needed: Yes. Donations: Yes.
Ancramdale
Location: Neighbors Helping Neighbors Association at the Presbyterian Church Hall, at the intersection of routes 8 and 82. Phone: Jack Lindsey, 518-329-7306 or Hila Richardson, 917-414-8270. Hours: Monday, 5 to 5:30 p.m. Residency requirements: Ancram Township. Volunteers needed: No. Donations: Yes.
Copake/Hillsdale
Location: Roe Jan Food Pantry, 2684 State Route 23, Hillsdale. Phone: Vernetta Moore, 413-446-9431 or Betty White, 518-441-2789. Hours: 9 to noon Dec. 4, then every Friday of the month starting in January. Call to sign up or for a holiday basket. Residency requirements: Taconic Hills School District; ID requested. Volunteers needed: No. Donations: Yes, at IGA Market, 2628 Route 23, Hillsdale, or to P.O. Box 475, Hillsdale, NY 12529.
Pine Plains
Location: United Methodist Church, 3023 Church St. Phone: 518-398-7692. Hours: Second Saturday of the month, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Residency requirements: Pine Plains Central School District, with proof of residency. Volunteers needed: No.
Location: Willow Roots Food Pantry, 23 North Main St. Hours: Saturday, from 11 a.m. to noon. Phone: 518-751-0164. Residency requirements: No. Volunteers needed: Yes. Donations: Yes: Financial, by mail. Dry good donations may be left on the porch any time.
Millbrook
Location: Lyall Memorial Federated Church, 30 Maple Ave. Phone: Emergency Pantry, 845-242-6508 for an appointment. Meals on Wheels, 845-677-3485, leave a message. Residency requirements: Town of Washington. Volunteers needed: No. Donations: Yes.
Dover
Location: Center of Compassion Food Pantry, 52 Mill St. Phone: 845-877-9076. Hours: By appointment, Monday through Thursday. One visit every 30 days (three days of food available). Also, one-time only emergency visit possible. Residency requirements: Dover Union Free School District; ID required. Volunteers needed: No. Donations: Yes, to P.O. Box 665, Dover Plains, NY 12522.
Lakeville, Conn.
Location: Corner Food Pantry, 80 Sharon Road. Phone: 860-435-9886. Hours: Distribution is on Friday, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday, from 9 to 10 a.m. Residency requirements: No. Volunteers needed: Yes, call pantry and leave a name and phone number. Regular drop off for donations is on Friday, 9 to 10 a.m., but a container is on the porch that is emptied daily so donations may be made anytime.
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Lent: Time to consider social gospel movement
We are entering the annual Christian season of Lent this week.With its 40 days of contemplation and “little Easter” Sundays, it is a time to remember the healing ministry and the sacrifice of Jesus.During this season, we are invited to think deeply about our role as agents of grace and love in our hurting world.
There is a long history of making sacrifices and commitments for Lent, modeling our discipleship and hopes for a more heavenly world. It is through this lens that I invite you to join us in considering what gifts and services the community needs that we can commit to bringing forth in the weeks leading up to Easter.While many lean into solitary introspection during Lent, it may be particularly advantageous to use our meditations and sacrifices for the greater good this year.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, advised his followers centuries ago that “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness. Faith working by love is the length and depth and breadth and height of Christian perfection.”These words are connected to the firm belief of Wesley that a Methodist was fundamentally one who loved God with all their heart, mind, strength, and soul, along with loving one’s neighbor as oneself.He believed that being in love with God naturally also required loving other people, as every person was a beloved soul coming from the same source of life that we are.
Consequently, Wesley stood against slavery long before it was a popular view, prioritized caring for those who were poor and imprisoned, and made a point to do good to as many as he could for as long as he was physically able.
Indeed, the Methodists are not the only Christians who believe such things.These thoughts are primary messages of the Christian faith.In more recent history, we can note that during the time of the Golden Age, at the end of the late 19th century, the Christians mobilized to counteract the abject poverty, child labor, dangerous working conditions, and lack of education of the time.Famous theologians such as Washington Gladden, Walter Rauschenbusch, and W.E.B. DuBois began the Social Gospel movement, enacting with new verve the passion of Christ that empowers the community toward building the Kingdom of God.As Christians, they believed in uplifting the downtrodden and creating a community where all had a chance to thrive.Child labor laws were enacted, better working conditions were secured, Sunday School helped provide education, settlement houses were created, and the Salvation Army was born.
The social gospel movement continued in another wave of reforms and empowerment through the Civil Rights era.Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his intellect, energy, and life to help secure the reforms that enabled persons of color to vote, go to non-segregated schools, and have the right to share public spaces without discrimination.Like Christ, he paid the ultimate price for his prophetic vision.However, his impact on our society was formidable, lasting far beyond his short lifetime.
As Christians, it is very clear what to do in times of hardship, crisis, or challenge.Throughout the centuries, our call has been to help heal the world, doing whatever we can to uplift and transform loneliness into community, reminding each one how precious they are and how important it is to unite for the sake of the whole.Individually, the challenges can be overwhelming, even too much to bear.Collectively, we can do all things through the One who strengthens us.As they say, “We have the receipts!” We can do it again.
This Lent, let us give up our pessimism and fear, replacing it with a commitment to community and hope.Yes, things can seem dreadful, but our souls are not served by allowing ourselves to descend into the dark.We are keepers of the light.Let us do all within our power to create brightness so that its warmth may strengthen all as we live into the Social Gospel movement for our time.Chin up, friends, we can do this.We simply must be willing to get serious about doing it together.
Rev. Dr. Anna Crews Camphouse is pastor of Canaan, Lakeville, Millerton, and Sharon United Methodist Churches
Lead Pastor of the Northwestern Hills Cooperative
Parish UMC