August 18, 2020

Jenny Sanchez:
Hi, I’m Jenny Sanchez, and this is Sullivan 180 presents…. Take 5! Our guest today is Martin Colavito from S.A.L.T (Sullivan Allies Leading Together) in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension, Sullivan County. Marty, thank you for joining me again. Could you please give us an update on your food distribution efforts?

Marty Colavito:
Sure. We’re still delivering food, close to six days a week, which since we last talked, it has expanded a day. The need is still there. We still get calls. We still get concern from people living in the community and we’re still there to serve and bring people together through serving. Having people recognize how truly important it is that they recognize that they are stakeholders in our community, If food can bridge that gap to that recognition, then we’re going to continue doing it as long as we can.

Jenny Sanchez:
Okay, great. Any new challenges you’ve faced over the past few months?

Marty Colavito:
The biggest challenge, other than the need being there, and the sleepless nights worrying about how we’re going to continue to have food come in to, to grow healthier communities in our County. The challange is this feeling like we’re taking our foot off the gas a little bit and exhaling and due to the trauma that’s been produced as a result of COVID-19, this incredible urge to just take a breath and that becomes a challenge. Because of that, there’s all this, there’s almost like a false sense of security being developed. And I am here to say, because we are out there every day, we never miss a day, that the need is still there. We still get calls. As I said to you before, I got a call yesterday from somebody who hadn’t had food in three days. I don’t see the problem going away anytime soon, but I do say that if we continue to stay in the game and keep other people in the game, you know, we’re going to yield really, really positive dividends.

Jenny Sanchez:
Do you have any positive experiences that have come out of this you would like to share?

Marty Colavito:
Yeah, there’s a million! The best experience, the most, the most incredible experience is the leadership that’s being developed in our community. The people who otherwise never thought they had a voice in their community are becoming a part of this effort within their communities. And they’re providing help in distributing food. They’re providing help in navigating people to service once they talk to us and we put them in a direction. They’re providing help by just, you know, becoming this bottle of Elmers glue in their community and making this cohesiveness starting to happen and people feeling a little bit more comfortable with each other, with us, and realizing that the more we do together, the better we are, and that’s the truth. The other thing that’s been really incredible, and I know this ties into what we’re going to talk about in a minute, is that with Sullivan 180 devoting a lot of energy into doing some fundraising for us, it really makes SALT and Sullivan 180 this synergistic type of entity that I hope is contagious. I hope it’s contagious to other agencies. I hope it’s contagious through the community, that we can realize that we’re really not doing this for a billable unit of service. We’re really not doing this because we’re looking to expand, we’re doing this because we’re neighbors and the more we care for neighbors, the tighter we become as a community.

Jenny Sanchez:
What can community members do to aid your efforts?

Marty Colavito:
Community members, from the grassroots perspective, what they could do is they could be aware of their neighbor, be aware of who needs food and know that we are in every community from Narrowsburg to Bloomingburg, Mountain Dale, Fallsburg, Wurtsboro. We’re in every community: the big three, obviously Livingston Manor. People see our truck and it’s not uncommon for people to be in the street and say, “Hey, Marty,!” as the truck is driving by, and wave and honk and that type of stuff. So being aware of your neighbor, being aware of the status of your neighbor makes you a better neighbor. And if they do need food, urge them to contact us or you contact us. We have ways of approaching people where again, part of what we do is make people realize this isn’t a charity. This is an investment in each other. And when we approach people who are in need, we don’t approach them like we’re doing them a favor. We approach them like they’re worth the investment. And if they grow, we all grow.

Jenny Sanchez:
How can someone get in touch with you?

Marty Colavito:
They can get in touch with me by calling me. My phone number is 845-596-0075. and my email is MartinColavito 1234@gmail.com. That’s how people can get ahold of me. And just another part of the question, you asked minute ago, about how people would get involved. I answered it from a grassroots perspective. From an agency perspective, we need the hearts and minds of administrators to recognize that what is happening now in our communities is proof that if they work with each other, their agencies will become stronger. And as a result, the County will be strong. The more that agencies work together, the more agencies compliment each other, the stronger we become. That is the core of any type of basic economics: competition is good, but if we don’t work with each other, who cares?

Jenny Sanchez:
Okay, thank you. And another way the community can get involved: Sullivan 180 is hosting a virtual Coach to 5k. You can still register for race week, which will be August 30th through September 5th, or you can join one of our training teams. You can also make a donation to a specific team, individual participant, or you can make a general donation to support the cause. 100% of funds raised, both registration fees and donations will go to SALT to feed Sullivan County families in need. Marty, thank you for being here again and for letting us know what you’re doing to help Sullivan County.

Marty Colavito:
Well, listen, I thank you guys a lot. I mean, you guys are my heroes and we’re absolutely nothing without each other. I really appreciate what you guys are doing!