At the start of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s New York State on PAUSE executive order, a group of concerned community members along with Orange County Legislator Robert Sassi, the Town of Crawford and Tri-County Community Partnership, Inc. (TCCP) began a food drive for Crawford residents who were most at risk for testing positive for COVID-19: senior citizens. The group was inspired by Aimee Monastero who suggested someone help the senior citizens via a post on the Pine Bush Parents Facebook group.

Planning for the food drive began on March 13. Within a few days the volunteers had organized drop boxes for food and Hannaford Supermarket gift card donations, set up a temporary food pantry at 61 Main Street in Pine Bush and amassed a group of approximately 30 volunteers en route to a successful food drive. As of Thursday they had made over 200 deliveries of essential food and personal hygiene items.

“The most important thing that people should know is how quickly this community came together to help those in need,” Sassi said. “We didn’t bat an eyelash and we had a couple thousand dollars in donations.”

Bill and Maureen Cronin secured the temporary food pantry on Main Street from their landlords Ralph and Lucy Carr. The group set up a table at the Hannaford Supermarket in Pine Bush asking for food and Hannaford Supermarket gift card donations. The Pine Bush Lions Club donated $1,400 alone in gift cards.

Countless others made smaller donations as well. Two drop boxes for donations were at the Hannaford Supermarket in Pine Bush with another at Pine Bush Deli & Bagel. ProAmpac in Walden also pitched in, by donating food delivery bags. As fewer people began to be hospitalized due to COVID-19, the food drive’s delivery schedule began to change.

“Everything has morphed from the beginning based on need,” said Alayne Eisloeffel, project coordinator for TCCP.

Originally volunteers were delivering every day. Then their delivery schedule dwindled to twice a week. Now they deliver only on Thursday mornings. Alayne’s son Nick delivers all of the food to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

At this time, additional volunteers are not needed for the senior food drive. However, volunteers are always looking for toilet paper, paper towels and tissues. Gift cards to Hannaford Supermarket are also welcome. These items can be donated to the dropbox at Crawford Town Hall or to TCCP’s office at 127 Route 302 in Pine Bush. Senior citizens who can benefit from these services should call 845-745-0503 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays or send an email to senioressentialsquad@yahoo.com.

Each volunteer has the same goal in mind.

“We’d love for the seniors to feel safe enough to be able to do this for themselves,” Alayne Eisloeffel said.