May 22, 2020

Saraid Gonzalez:
Hello. I’m so Saraid Gonzalez, welcome to “Sullivan 180 Presents… Take Five!”. Our guest today is Cynthia Hernandez-Gonzalez from Catholic Charities of Orange Sullivan and Ulster. Hi, Cynthia. Welcome. Thank you for being here today.

Cynthia Hernandez-Gonzalez:
Hi! Thank you for having me, and thank you for inviting me to your ‘Take Five’ series. It’s an honor to be here.

Saraid Gonzalez:
Can you introduce yourself, your job title, and talk a little bit about your organization?

Cynthia Hernandez-Gonzalez:
Sure. I am Cynthia Hernandez-Gonzalez. I am the Sullivan County regional supervisor for Catholic Charities in Orange Sullivan Ulster. I am the supervisor here in Sullivan for case management and Hilldale Shelter. We are an nonprofit agency and we work within the community.

Saraid Gonzalez:
What are some new initiatives your organization is working on in response to COVID-19?

Cynthia Hernandez-Gonzalez:
Well, one: we’re working remotely. Like a lot of people will have been, doing the working remotely and we are servicing the community throughout, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster, doing most of the services that we provide already, which is we have a food program. And also we have a food pantry, a full food pantry, mobile and local, and a kids pantry that services the needs of children: formula, diapers, and, items that have to do with children. We also have a food closet, which is a new initiative here in Sullivan and an Orange, a food closet for the area of Sullivan County. We are going to start going mobile with the food closet. We’re going to try to deliver mobily to different locations here in Sullivan County the second and fourth Friday of the month. We are starting this Friday. Hopefully we look to target Ferndale and Liberty. We’re looking to go to Liberty apartments and in the Liberty area closer to the town of Liberty to service there. The agency still is providing and it’s open to the community, providing services such as prevention for drug and alcohol, the inpatient and outpatient clinical services for drug and alcohol and addiction treatment centers are still open. The agency, as a whole does parish counseling network, and it focuses more on grief and grieving process. The employee assistance program to assist other agencies in dealing with different areas within their employee population. We also have immigration services through Orange Sullivan and Ulster. Those are by appointment, but we are still servicing with the office, from the Americans within the immigration legal services of the Catholic Charities Agency. Here in Sullivan, we also try to do homeless prevention through case management, it is our social safety net program.We help with rental assistance if needed rental arears, first months rent, try to prevent people from having to relocate if we can help them with their rental arrears. And we also manage the Hilldale, All male shelter. And that’s through a contract with the SS.
Saraid Gonzalez:
How can community members help your organization?

Cynthia Hernandez-Gonzalez:
Well, we are receiving, if people would want to assist with especially food, which is a big gap that we’re seeing that people are in need of food. They can either call us directly at our office. We are working remotely but we are receiving all the phone calls 845-794-8080 either extension 2870, or extension 2825 that’s specific for Sullivan County. And there we try to, they can either refer people to us. They, if they want to donate food, we are receiving donations of nonperishable items. And as long as they’re not expired. Right now with the situation for safety reasons for individuals and those that are wanting to donate, it’s by appointment. So we schedule the appointment, we meet, we go through the safety protocols of having to wear masks and gloves. But we are still servicing the community that way, If they wish to do a cash donation through the organization that is through our main offices in Goshen. And they can call the offices in Goshen at (845) 294-5124, or if they want to send a check, they can send it to Catholic Charities, 27 Matthew Street, Goshen, New York 10924.

Saraid Gonzalez:
And how can people stay in touch with your organization?

Cynthia Hernandez-Gonzalez:
We do have a Facebook and Instagram page and it’s the Catholic Charities of Orange Sullivan Ulster and it’ll come up in both Facebook and Instagram. We also have a helpline that is email, and I will spell it out. It’s www.ccosuhelpline@cccsos.org.

Saraid Gonzalez:
Is there anything else that you’d like to share?

Cynthia Hernandez-Gonzalez:
We’re partnering with the Census Bureau, and on our Facebook page, you’ll see the different series of the census information. And we’re encouraging everybody to get counted. We’re encouraging everybody to fill out the census. If they need more information, or if they want help filling out the census, even if we have to do it over the phone, we are able to help people, to do it online, or if they have the paperwork in their home, we can walk them through it as they fill it out. It’s imperative that people get counted, especially here within our County, where we have such a percentage of under reported numbers for the last census and the one before that. So we’re hoping to get as many people counted. So I thank you and your agency for what you do regarding the census and all that information. That’s so important and imperative.

Saraid Gonzalez:
Well, thanks so much. It was nice speaking with you. Nice being with you, and thank you everybody and stay safe and just follow all the safety prevention methods that you have been following so far. And we encourage everybody: go get some sunshine and get some fresh air, have a walk!