GOSHEN – Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus has named Pat Sclafani as February’s Citizen of the Month Award recipient. Neuhaus began the program that honors nominees on a monthly basis in 2017.
Sclafani was recognized for her dedication to Blooming Grove’s Neighbors-for-Neighbors program, which provides a variety of assistance to older adults and disabled residents in collaboration with the County’s Office for the Aging and Jewish Family Service of Orange County.
“Patricia’s dedication to the Neighbors-for-Neighbors program is inspiring,” Neuhaus said. “She is kind and civic-minded and has had a positive impact on hundreds of people in the community. We appreciate her dedication to the well-being of the residents of our County and I’m proud to recognize her as the Citizen of the Month.”
Sclafani, a retired nurse, has served as the coordinator of Neighbors-for-Neighbors for six years. The program provides clients in the Town of Blooming Grove and the Villages of South Blooming Grove and Washingtonville with free transportation to medical visits and for grocery shopping. Volunteers also visit the homes of clients to provide companionship and clerical assistance and will call clients to check up on them and to engage them in conversation.
As coordinator, Sclafani is responsible for taking all Neighbors-for-Neighbors phone calls and connecting volunteers with anyone in need of services. She also helps market the program and raise awareness about the needs of older adults in the community.
“I’m a nurse, so I like to take care of people,” Sclafani said. “I am very grateful that I have been able to help so many seniors over the years, alleviating their fears about not getting care or being able to get groceries. It is a powerful program in so many ways.”
Sclafani stepped down as coordinator, effective Monday, Jan. 31, but she plans on returning to Neighbors-for-Neighbors as a volunteer after a short break. Sclafani and her wife, Lynne Argast, live in Blooming Grove. Sclafani has three children and six grandchildren.
“This program has helped save people, especially during the pandemic, which has taken its toll on all of us,” Sclafani said. “I get emotional talking about it, but I will be back and I look forward to being out there with the people that Neighbors-for-Neighbors serves.”
To nominate someone for the Citizen of the Month Award, please email ceoffice@orangecountygov.com or mail a letter to “Citizen of the Month” at 255-275 Main Street Goshen, N.Y. 10924. Be sure to include the nominee’s name, hometown, a list of their accomplishments, why you are nominating them, and any other pertinent information.
