During the best of times, food pantries and charitable groups provide a lifeline to the less fortunate in our communities. During times of pandemic and economic uncertainty, their services are in even higher demand.

A team of around nine volunteers arrive at the Monticello United Methodist Church on Broadway early on Saturday mornings. They have a long day ahead of them as close to a hundred individuals and families swing by for the weekly food pantry.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, they've been offering free meals and grocery bags from the sidewalk outside the church at 445 Broadway every Saturday from noon until 2 p.m.

The church says the number of people they serve has ballooned since the start of the pandemic.

“We've never had numbers like we have now,” said organizer Kathleen Aitken.

Aitken said before the pandemic hit they used to hold “open table meals” inside the church where they usually served between 30 and 50 people. Since they've moved their operation outside and started offering weekly meals and grocery pickups, that number has doubled.

“I honestly didn't know what we were going to do,” Aitken said. “We used to shop for ourselves, but when COVID hit they didn't allow you to shop in bulk. I prayed to God to help us come up with an answer.”

That answer has come from more than one place. Local organizations and businesses have stepped up to help the people that the church serves, including eggs from Deb El Foods, chicken from Snowdance Farm and Hudson Valley Foie Gras, vegetables from Minkus Family Farms, supplies from the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities, socks from the Bombas sock company and many more.

The church has been working to partner with the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley to get even more donations. Aitken says all that's left is a site visit so they can inspect their operation and give them the green light, but that has been complicated due to COVID.

Aitken said they've spoken with some county officials such as Lise-Anne Deoul from the Office for the Aging, Community Resources Commissioner Laura Quigley and Kathy Kreiter from the Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless to get some assistance through the county's Emergency Community Assistance Center.

With these resources and a small grant Aitken secures through the United Methodist Conference, they're able to keep the people they serve from going hungry. Each week volunteers distribute meals and a few grocery bags with enough to feed a small family for a few days. They even offer pet food for those with animals.

“And it's not just people in Monticello,” Aitken said. “It's people from throughout the county. If you can get here we can feed you.”

While it used to be mostly adult men who came to the food pantry, Aitken said they've been seeing more families lately.

“The need is great and everything is spread thin,” said volunteer Steven Deveau, who helps tend the church's garden and also prepares the meals they distribute. Anyone who wishes to donate or volunteer can contact Aitken at (845) 720-0498 or Deveau at (845) 707-6717.

Reverend Jorge Lopez says they can assist spanish-speaking residents.