Rockland Parish Volunteers and Staff Recognized at Hearts of Gold Gala

The June 18 Hearts of Gold Gala hosted by Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland (CCCSR) was an enormous success attracting over 320 people from across the county to acknowledge the hard work of volunteers and staff from the 14 parishes in Rockland County for their “hearts of gold.” The honorees were nominated by their respective Pastors for their dedication and commitment to their own parish ministry.

“It was our honor to celebrate so many special individuals who give back to others through their Parish communities. This was the third year local Parish priests identified their own Parish members for this recognition and I’m proud to say it is now a tradition that the entire Rockland community looks forward to,” stated Dan Eudene, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland.

CCCSR has been assisting Rocklanders with food insecurity and housing issues for over 25 years, regardless of religions, race or ethnicity. They have an on-site garden and food pantry to help ensure individuals receive the food they need as well as fresh produce to put on the table. The money raised for the gala goes directly to help individuals and families in need across Rockland.

Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland Hearts of Gold Honorees were:

• Raymond Botto – St. Augustine, New City
• Mary Peden – Sacred Heart, Suffern
• Ursula Wooley – St. Francis, West Nyack
• Rosaria Leaver – St. Francis, West Nyack
• Maria Dowling – St. Margaret, Pearl River
• Don Paoli – St. Paul & St. Ann, Congers
• Jane Barch – St. Paul & St. Ann, Congers
• Anne Swann – St. John Henry Newman, Tappan
• Alex Aguilar – St. John Henry Newman, Tappan
• Patricia McKenna – St. Catharine of Alexandria Church, Blauvelt
• Isidro Cancel – St. Peter’s and St. Mary’s, Haverstraw
• St. Anthony’s Social Committee – St. Anthony, Nanuet
• Deacon John Kelly – St. Gregory, Garnerville
• Robert Mazzocchi – St. Aedan, Pearl River

Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland is an affiliate of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York and is a not-for-profit 501c3 social service agency established in 1996 by the Catholic parishes of Rockland County. Through compassionate and professional case management, Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland assists individuals and families of all ages, from every race, and ethnic group from throughout Rockland County regardless of their religious affiliation. The organization’s focus is to provide the necessities of life, such as food, shelter and emergency assistance to those in need. Programs include information and referral, general case management, homelessness and eviction prevention, emergency financial assistance, nutritional outreach and education, a food pantry, and immigration legal services. More information can be found at www.ccrockland.org or by calling (845) 942-5791.

In an average year CCCSR:

• Provides 200,000+ meals through the Food Pantry to over 5,500 including over 6,800 children

• Distributes 10,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to Food Pantry participants from the Community Garden of Love located on the property along with donated produce from Stoke’s Farms

• Receives support from 40+ dedicated volunteers help to prepare, bag, and distribute food

• Prevents over 100 households from losing their shelter