Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties (HOSC) is celebrating a successful food drive in time for the Thanksgiving holiday and the onset of winter. Their “Hearts That Heal, Hands That Feed” food drive provided over 100 meals to families in need across Orange and Sullivan counties through an initiative led by its employees.

HOSC is a nonprofit organization that primarily delivers hospice and end-of-life care in patients’ homes, serving an average of 150 individuals (in both counties) at any given time. Its interdisciplinary team includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers and home health aides. While the organization operates an 11-bed inpatient hospice residence in Newburgh, the majority of care is home-based.

Up to 40% of HOSC’s services are provided to residents of Sullivan County, where the organization has maintained a strong presence since the former Sullivan County Hospice merged with Orange County services approximately 20 years ago. HOSC’s funding is generated 83% from clients’ Medicare insurance payments, with the remaining funding coming from other insurance plans.

The food drive was organized by HOSC staff to give back to the communities where they work and live. Collection sites were set up at the Kaplan Family Hospice Residence in Newburgh, the Middletown Hub and the organization’s administrative offices, where employees filled boxes with food and supplies that were assembled into complete holiday meals.

“This initiative reflects the spirit of our organization,” said Eric Gatsik, President and CEO of HOSC. “Our staff brought the same dedication to this effort that they bring to our patients and families. The discontinuation of SNAP benefits during the recent government shutdown had a huge impact, and local organizations and pantries will be trying to catch up from that for a while.”

Donations were distributed through Immaculate Conception Church in Woodbourne, Catholic Charities in Monticello and Newburgh, and the Deacon Jack Seymour Food Pantry in Newburgh, ensuring families in both counties received support during the holiday season.

Jessica Epifania, Advancement Coordinator for HOSC, noted that the food drive was a natural extension of their mission. “It was more than collecting food—it was about compassion, dignity and strengthening the bonds within our community.”

“Of course there is an ongoing need,” said Gatsik. “There is a predictable drop off in engagement around food needs every January.” He thinks that his staff’s contribution to community food security will find some way to continue its contributions on an ongoing basis.