September 29, 2020
Fall Outreach Appeal
Greetings!

As Christians, we believe that in serving others, we are serving God. Since the ‘lock down’ in early March when St Mary’s joined forces with other community institutions to create ‘Operation: Love Thy Neighbor,’ St Mary’s Outreach has continued to be known as a place to turn for help when times are tough and you need assistance.

During quarantine, our network of neighborhood coordinators helped maintain a sense of human connection. We ran errands for shut-ins and provided food, clothing and financial support to many people in need.

Our partnership with the Sloatsburg Food Pantry remains particularly strong. Together, we are making a positive difference for hundreds of local families. In the past six months, St Mary’s Outreach has disbursed over $52,000!

Our funds have provided for:
  • rent for people who are in danger of losing their homes
  • utility bills for families who have no income due to being laid off
  • Covid related medical bills
  • vital medical equipment not covered by insurance
  • camp sponsorship for children in need
  • new underclothes for the children's clothing drive
  • an air filtration unit for the food pantry
  • child care for children so their mother could work
  • computer repair for a family who owned only one computer
  • $5,400 in ShopRite cards for 27 Tuxedo families getting free school meal deliveries
  • the Helping Hands for the Homeless breakfast program
  • direct donations to the Food Pantry, Helping Hands, and Episcobuild [Habitat Newburgh].
Requests for emergency financial and practical assistance continue, and are even increasing as families’ savings begin to run out. For example, the food pantry has seen a tremendous increase in food insecurity. In January and February, the number of families being served at each opening averaged 125. In May it was 412 and now it has settled at around 220. The operation has far outgrown the Sloatsburg Methodist Church basement and small parking lot, and with the present safety measures in place, it's quite untenable. After an exhaustive search, a space in Duck Cedar Plaza was found, which is ideal but comes at five times the rent we were paying. The food pantry will be moving in October, and St Mary’s has taken on responsibility to help cover the increased costs.

St Mary’s Outreach account is now at only $2,000 in cash and 24 ShopRite cards.
 
Please support St Mary’s work with families in need in our local community by making a donation of any amount to our local outreach. Click on the donate button below or send a check to St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo, P.O. Box 637, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987 (memo: Outreach Appeal). All funds raised will stay within our community, and we simply can’t continue to help our neighbors without your support!
 
Thank you to those who have been donating over this very difficult time. Your donations have been well used and appreciated. May God bless you in your generosity.
 
Fr. Rick Robyn, Rector
Sue Heywood, Outreach Chair
How to contact us...
Website: www.stmtux.org
Office: 845.351.5122
Physical Address: 10 Fox Hill Rd, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 637, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987