GOSHEN – With the support of ShopRite Supermarkets, the Kaplan Foundation and Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus arranged for a tractor-trailer of more than 60,000 pounds of non-perishable food to be delivered to the Encounter Church in Rock Tavern on Friday, March 20.
“It is always wonderful to see so many people from the community come together to help those in need,” Neuhaus said. “It is our moral obligation to continue to provide food and other essentials to those in Orange County in need. I want to thank all of the volunteers and residents who have come together to help the community.”
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, there has been a spike in demand for emergency food assistance. Many local food pantries have not been able to serve residents during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Encounter Church Pastor Anthony Mugnano reached out to Schmitt on Monday to try to receive financial and shipping assistance to acquire additional non-perishable food to serve a larger number of families in need in the community
The Kaplan Family Foundation and ShopRite made emergency donations to purchase food. Neuhaus also contributed Orange County funding and personnel from the county’s DPW helped unload the goods for delivery. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. provided discounted transportation to ensure the food made it to a variety of food pantries.
If you or your family is in need, contact the Encounter Church at 845-497-0142 to arrange pickup. If you cannot arrange to pick up the food yourself, contact the Orange County Crisis Center at 1-800-832-1200.
