April 21, 2020

Jenny Sanchez:
I have Martin Colavito and Thomas Bosket here with me today from S.A.L.T., in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, who are on the front lines of the community’s response. Could you please introduce yourself and share what S.A.L.T. has been doing?

Tom Bosket:
Thomas Bosket. I’m the coordinator for the ‘Drug Free Community Grant’ or DFC through S.A.L.T., which is Sullivan Agencies Leading Together, and cofounder of ENGN Civic Creative Center in Callicoon, New York.

Martin Colavito:
Martin Colavito. I’m a part of S.A.L.T., Sullivan Agencies Leading Together. And in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension, we’ve been getting food to folks in the community, who in the best of times have been forgotten, and now things are kind of tougher, so, they slide even more within the cracks and these are our neighbors and our friends, and we’re trying to keep folks in the game.

Jenny Sanchez:
That’s great. So how has the daily operation of your organization and partnership changed?

Martin Colavito:
So we’d get out about a couple of thousand meals a week to people and we strategically do this. So we’re in some communities where leadership is being developed and people are taking charge. So we give them food, they distribute it, we come back, inventory what they have, what’s gone, what they need a refill, restock, that type of stuff. And then we have an extensive list of individuals that otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity because of this crisis to even get to the store, or do most of their shopping at like a corner store where the prices are a lot more. So they’re limited income is even more limited.

Jenny Sanchez:
I’m glad to hear that. And what can community members do to aid your efforts and or how, if somebody needs assistance or wants help, how could they reach out?

Martin Colavito:
I’m trying to get ahold of another strong partner which is a food hub: the Catskill Food, Hub. They actually put in for a grant for us. And we’re going to have about $1,900 worth of food a week for three weeks to get boxes of food that would include all the really basic stuff that families would need or individuals would need. So we’re getting that out. So we’re getting a lot of help in that regard. And our goal, Tom and myself, every day is to come back with an empty truck and we do every single day. So Tom can explain how to do any type of donating if people are interested.

Tom Bosket:
And I think the first thing on that level is just walk, take a walk around your neighborhood and see if there’s anybody out there or talk to people. And just, don’t be shy about saying, “Hey, if you know of anybody who needs a hand, let me know!” And I’d be able to chip in or you never know what somebody might need. And then on a, I guess, a different level, people can donate cash. Donations to ENGN Center, and that’s www.engncntr.com. We also want to encourage conversations in the future about food stability. I would recommend probably coming to a S.A.L.T. meeting, and just starting to know who’s meeting. We meet monthly: third, Monday of the month at nine o’clock. It’s going to be virtual for awhile. So if you want to be on that list, let us know.

Martin Colavito:
If somebody does need food, we can be reached at (845) 596-0075, and Thomas holding it up for me to read. And that’s my phone number. So, you know, we’re in this together, you know what I mean? And the more we work together, the better, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention two things. Number one, the folks who work in Monticello, I guess the transportation component of the school district with the school buses have been incredible in their support of this. And every day we, well, three times a week, we go there and whatever, extra lunches and breakfast, some milk they have, sometimes there’s quite a bit. They give to us and we get it out. It goes out and literally hundreds of people a week, we’re getting these mealls and they’re all incredibly cooperative and they roll in. And the other one is every day, we see the folks In Action Towards Independence, cause you drop stuff there and their spirit and their connection to the community, and the street is palpable. It’s unbelievable.

Jenny Sanchez:
Wow. That’s, that’s so great to hear. Thank you both so much for taking the time to talk with me today and for your efforts and S.A.L.T.’s efforts and helping the community. Could you please just remind us of that phone number one more time?

Martin Colavito:
Yes. If anybody is in need of food or in need of navigating being navigated to any service call at (845) 596-0075, and somebody will be back. If somebody doesn’t answer immediately, somebody will absolutely get back.

Jenny Sanchez:
Okay, great.

Tom Bosket:
Yeah. And I was naive in the beginning of what a “service” means, and basically it means food, employment, clothing, child, safety, your health, your wellness, whatever. If you have a concern, you can voice it there and we can try to at least navigate you to the appropriate services in our County.

Jenny Sanchez:
Okay. Thank you! Again, please keep an eye out for “Sullivan 180 Presents… Take Five!”. Our videos air every Friday, where we continue to share the community response to COVID-19. Thank you.

Martin Colavito:
Excellent. Thank you. Good day.