Rock Tavern. Food security initiative to help vulnerable populations

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Rock Tavern (UUCRT) took action this week to distribute food to vulnerable communities, like homebound seniors and families facing food and housing insecurity by Covid19, utilizing a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan, and gifts from individual congregants and donors and to distribute funds to assist refugee families facing similar problems.

The congregation created a Food Security Initiative to be led by Bryon Abrams, who will head the volunteer task force to deliver food to households in Orange and Sullivan Counties.

Abrams reports that “the first shipment of 80 bags of groceries will be coming in next week.” Non-perishable food will be stored at the congregation’s 9 Vance Road location in Rock Tavern for the time being pending distribution to needy families. Contact information for those in need of food: UUCovid19TF@gmail.com and 845-288-3488.

The congregation’s board of trustees also moved to donate $2,000, from a separate fund, to the Rural and Migrant Ministry, a Poughkeepsie based non-profit which “works for the creation of a just, rural New York State through nurturing leadership, standing with the disenfranchised, especially farm workers and rural workers and changing unjust systems and structures.” The ministry is active in rural and migrant communities in this region.

All donations made to Rev. Chris J. Antal’s Minister’s Discretionary Fund through the end of 2020 will be distributed for COVID19 relief directly to households in need. Donate by going to www.uucrt.org and clicking on the donate tab or email info.uucrt@gmail.com.