ELLENVILLE — On Sunday, April 21, Father Arthur Rojas, the pastor of Presentation-Sacred Heart Parish at Port Ewen and Esopus, delivered to Father Kenneth Riello, the pastor of St. Mary and St. Andrew’s Churches, boxes and bags of homemade blankets and shawls from his parishioners for distribution via the Food Pantry at Father Riello’s parish.

“In light of a store of blankets and shawls made by several parishioners, including a legacy from the now defunct Martha and Mary Ladies sodality of Sacred Heart Church, it became evident that the best use of these items was for the poor at Ellenville, which is the most distressed area of Ulster County,” Father Rojas said.

The food pantry helps 100-140 households per month in and around Ellenville with foodstuffs and other items as obtained, such as blankets and shawls, according to Father Riello. 

“With winter lingering in this mountainous area as it does, these blankets and shawls will come in handy for our poor and elderly neighbors,” Father Riello commented. “What a legacy for the Martha and Mary Ladies of Father Rojas’s parish to provide for the poor of Ulster County here at Ellenville, along with the Christian kindness of others at both churches.” For more information about the Food Pantry, for assistance or to help with its charitable works, contact St. Mary-St. Andrew’s Church at (845) 647-6080 or email.

For the last few years, Presentation-Sacred Heart Parish has oriented certain charitable efforts towards St. Mary & St. Andrew’s Parish, given its socioeconomic profile and hilly terrain, such as the collections at Masses on Thanksgiving Day each year and periodic donations of various kinds from parishioners from Port Ewen and Esopus. 

“In addition to the work of our parish regarding the Word of God, the sacraments, devotions, and our apostolates, helping poor households at Ellenville enables our parishioners to make a difference right here in Ulster County as proof of the American saying that “charity begins at home,” Father Rojas said. 

Visit Presentation-Sacred Heart Parish’s website or call (845) 331-0053 for more information.