From Seed to Supper: Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland hosts 11th annual Blessing of the Soil event

Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland (CCCSR), also known as The Warm Heart of Rockland, just hosted their 11th annual Blessing of the Soil Event on Saturday, April 30 in Haverstraw. This was their first in person event since COVID-19 first hit in 2019. 

Monsignor Emmet R. Nevin, Vicar of Rockland and a member of the CCCSR Board of Directors, gave the blessing. CCCSR’S theme for the event this year was “From Seed to Supper”, as they were able to educate all attendees about how there operation is able to turn mere seedlings into produce that can feed countless people in need In attendance was Martha Robles, the previous Executive Director of CCCSR. 

CCCSR is a nonprofit home to one of the only greenhouses on the site of a food pantry in the northeast. For eleven years, they have fostered a large garden where staff and volunteers oversee the growing of fresh vegetables for families and individuals who access the food pantry all year long. Since then, three gardens in Rockland were constructed to successfully support our community food pantries with fresh produce. The gardens include the Garden of Love, located in Haverstraw, the Garden of Hope located at Good Samaritan Hospital and the Garden of Faith operated by St. Ann’s Parish and located at the Marydell Faith & Life Center in Nyack. 

CCCSR’S sponsors of the event include: 

Montefiore | Nyack– tomato sponsor 

Hudson Valley EATS – lettuce sponsor 

Hood, Hood & Hood Law Firm – eggplant sponsor 

Drs. Joan and Tom Facelle – corn sponsors 

Kathy Kearns – pepper sponsor 

Eastern Planning Inc. – watering can sponsor 

New City Chiropractic Center – rake sponsor 

Also in attednace was the non- for-profit organization, Wonder Girls. Their group of volunteers had the chance to learn about the background of CCCSR with Dan Eudene, Executive Director of CCCSR and board member Susan O’Connor. “We continue to strive to be the warm heart of Rockland. We try to provide help and create hope to all of the residents of Rockland County regardless of their background,”said Eudene. “We believe that nobody should be hungry, that everybody should have a safe place to sleep, and that they should live their lives in dignity.” 

Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland, The Warm Heart of Rockland, provides services to people of all ages, and from all over the County. The organization’s focus is to provide life necessities, including food, shelter, and other emergency assistance to those in need. They are always welcoming new volunteers on board. 

The staff speaks English, Spanish, and French Creole, and assists people of all ages, races, and religions in Rockland County. CCCSR also runs the Warming Center for Rockland County during the colder months. More information can be found at www.ccsrockland.org or by calling (845) 942-5791. Those wishing to support the organization can donate on the website or text CCROCKLAND TO 21000.

  blessing of the soil, Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland