On Thursday, January 9, thousands of shelf-stable meals were donated to food pantries in Monticello and Newburgh to assist the Archdiocese of New York’s residents who face food insecurity.

The meals were made possible through a gift by entrepreneur Sean Brady and facilitated by the Manhattan-based Heavenly HARVST Foundation, founded by Chef John Doherty of Black Barn Restaurant.

“Many people are working multiple jobs just to make ends meet,” and the food pantries provide “a little help” to them, said Kristin Jensen, chief advancement officer of Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster, to The Good Newsroom at the Deacon Jack Seymour Food Pantry in Newburgh, which received part of the donation.

“A lot of people are one emergency away from catastrophe,” Jensen said.

The boxed meal choices included macaroni bolognese and chili, both of which require little preparation and will remain edible for at least a year. Some vegetarian options were also available.

The donated meals were received at both the Seymour pantry in Newburgh, across the street from St. Teresa of Calcutta parish and housed in the former Sacred Heart School gymnasium, and the Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster offices in Monticello. The meals will be distributed at a later date.

Paul and Linda Zalanowski operate the Seymour pantry as volunteers and are assisted by others who donate their time. Open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday. Visitors to the pantry only need to “prove existence,” Zalanowski said, meaning that people wishing to receive food for other family members must show ID not only for themselves but for those on whose behalf they are acquiring items. The pantry is not restricted only to parishioners nor even to Catholics, he said.

The Seymour pantry served more than 91,000 people over the last 12 months, Zalanowski said, including repeat visitors.

Catholic Charities’ pantry in Monticello is co-located with their management office to provide more services, including immigration and legal assistance, Jensen said.

In addition to food items, the pantries offer hygiene products, baby supplies, and seasonal items such as winter coats, as available.

Deacon John L. “Jack” Seymour served the parishes of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Mary in Newburgh for 33 years, after being ordained as a permanent deacon by Cardinal John O’Connor. He was a longtime resident of New Windsor.