At Catholic Charities of New York, we proudly serve our neighbors through a federation of agencies dedicated to providing help and creating hope across our region. Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland is one of our trusted agencies, meeting the needs of families throughout Rockland County.

At Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland, their beautiful Garden of Love grows fresh produce to help nourish local families. Right next to the garden, their food pantry provides essential groceries to anyone in need, ensuring that no one in the Rockland community goes hungry. When neighbors need more support, they help them apply for SNAP benefits so families can continue to put healthy food on the table.

SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is the only federal nutrition program available to all citizens and some legal immigrants who meet income guidelines. Through their Nutrition Education Outreach Program (NOEP), coordinators meet one-on-one with community members to share information about SNAP, determine if they’re eligible, and help them complete the application process. With SNAP, eligible households receive a monthly stipend to help cover the cost of nutritious food.

When Greissy Pena first came to Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland, she was a young mother doing everything she could to care for her family. She and her partner were both working part-time jobs but still struggled to make ends meet and feed their two-month-old daughter. Greissy turned to them for help applying for SNAP — a lifeline during one of the hardest moments in her life.

“When I first started here, I started as a client. I was applying for SNAP at the time. I was working a part-time job and so was my partner. We had a two-month-old daughter. This benefit helped us provide food for our family in one of the hardest moments,” Greissy shared.

Inspired by the help she received, Greissy joined their team as an employee — transforming her own experience into a mission to help others. Today, Greissy works as a Coordinator at Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland, supporting other families just as she was once supported.

“I now work here, and Catholic Charities has helped me in so many ways, not only as a client but also as an employee. My daughter is two years old now, and her mom is helping people the same way she was helped,” she says proudly.

Greissy’s journey is just one example of how our Catholic Charities network stands beside New Yorkers every day — providing support when it’s needed most and empowering people to build brighter futures for themselves and their families.

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