There are two food pantries in HF
Peanut butter, canned fruit (and applesauce), ‘kid cereals’, jelly, soup, pasta and pasta sauces, rice mixes, tuna and juice.
You name it, if it’s non-perishable, the local food pantries will take it. Highland Falls has two food pantries, both operated by volunteers serving the churches. The above food items are just a few of the suggestions of what to donate.
This time of year can be a challenging one for families to make ends meet, those who work in the food pantries say, with increased heating bills, for instance. That’s why, weekly in the community there is someplace to get emergency food.
An added fear this year is due to the partial government shut-down. While West Point civilian workers are not directly affected by the shutdown, there could come a time, if the shutdown continues, where the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — formerly known as the Food Stamp Program — is affected. That would have an impact here. There are also families in the community who get similar benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) who could potentially lose benefits.
Thus, the food pantries are more important than ever. Food pantries typically receive more donations during the pre-holiday season.
There are other several other nutrition programs provided locally, including meals served to senior citizens three days a week by the Orange County Office of the Aging at the Church of the Holy Innocents. Those are served Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, call 845-751-0181.
The Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District, in conjunction with Orange County, sends home backpacks full of food to qualified students weekly. Families not enrolled in that program who think they may qualify can call the school district’s offices at 446-9575 ext. 1300.
And, on the fourth Saturday of each month, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Hudson Highlands United Methodist Church serves a free hot lunch to anyone who wants it, at 341 Main St., Highland Falls. There is a lunch this Saturday (January 26).
Here is information on how to get help from the two local food pantries, as well as how to help:
Sacred Heart Church
Sacred Heart’s food pantry is open on the first and third Wednesday of each month, from 10:30 a.m. to noon and 4-5 p.m, Rev. Joseph Tokarczyk said.
Christina Smith and Jennifer Adams manage the pantry.
Located in the old music room inside Sacred Heart School (use the parking lot entrance to the school) it currently serves about 30 families each time it is open. Anyone who needs food is encouraged to visit, or call the church office at 446-4609 for information. Anyone who wants to drop off food can leave in at the church office or inside the church using one of the side doors.
“We rely on donations and are so thankful for all of the families in our community which have donated.”
Jennifer Adams
Church of the Holy Innocents
Holy Innocents food pantry is open on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, from 4-5:30 p.m., Coordinator Rene Crow said. It serves between 50 and 60 families each week, but has 115-120 registered. Those who get food from Holy Innocents are asked to register — they don’t need to bring any type of paperwork to do so — because the food pantry receives funding from agencies such as the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley depending on how many people they serve. Food can be donated to the Holy Innocents pantry during the distribution hours, or those who want to donate can contact Crow at 254-231-6360 to make special arrangements. She said this week that there are other volunteer opportunities as well, like setting up for distribution day, picking up food at the Food Bank in Cornwall, and helping needy families specifically.
