Shablee Mays of Newburgh welcomes city residents and community members on Saturday, September 9 for an afternoon of home cooked food, donated items to help support one another and overall community engagement. The service event will start at 4 p.m. on the lot near Johnston Street and Broadway.

“This event is about giving back to the community and the people in the community,” she said. “We all struggle in life. I always say, never look down on someone unless you’re helping them up.”

The Saturday event as Mays calls it, is “We Eat Together.” As a caterer and homecook, Mays shared that she would be preparing ziti, rasta pasta, curry chicken, jerk pork, Jambalaya rice, Cajun chicken and white rice. With the location on Broadway set, the hope is to be visible to all who pass by.

Within the past couple of days into weeks leading to the upcoming event, Mays has been sending emails, making calls and asking people for donations to help support the event with any items that could be provided. While some have answered the call, others were not heard back from.

For Mays, she has been able to get items donated from Hannaford Supermarkets, Stop & Shop, McDonalds on Route 300 and the Dunkin Donuts on Broadway. She is also thankful for the support from her children and her father, Deacon Donald Fryar, who runs a local non for profit called True Insight Inc.

With the day fast approaching, she is nervous but also excited for people to come out. “I hope everybody comes out, you know, just have a good time,” she said.

For those who may be in attendance on Saturday, Mays expressed the importance of having a good quality meal, as she openly shared that she was at one time homeless and did not have that regular meal. Even during the pandemic, Mays recalled the many soup kitchens that were open and available to the community during that unknown time that helped keep people fed.

Even though there may be people out there who may not want to seek help, Mays says she believes that if the community comes together, then the community can help one another with any situation.

Though the summer is coming to an end and fall is on the horizon, Mays said she hopes to continue her outreach events going at least once a month, every month. “I’ll be out there in the winter if I have to. I got a mean chili recipe,” she said.

Her main business, Shablee Boutique, is also where most of the clothes would be donated from so people can choose and have outfits to wear out for important events or have a boost of self-confidence. Other community members such as Gabrielle Burton-Hill have contributed to the donations collected.

“Despite the many challenges that the City of Newburgh may have, most of them are no different than any other municipality. One thing I love about living here in my city, is our ability to come together and put the needs of others first,” said Burton-Hill.” Living in the City of Newburgh is like living in a big heart because everywhere you go, people are opening up their hearts, people are opening up their time, money, you know, energy to give back to those that are less fortunate.”