The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

MONTICELLO, NY (January 10, 2011) – Eldred was a busy place in December. 

At a place called The Piazza located at the four corners in Eldred, there was a Santa’s Village, conceived by local resident Lou Monteleone. During the holiday season, the Piazza was home to Santa and Mrs. Claus, and occasionally Rudolph, Frosty and many of their friends.

In addition to the miniature buildings depicting Santa’s Home, Santa’s Workshop and Rudolph’s Barn, there were also three Trees of Giving. “I thought that this season we should focus on giving, and I figured there were a lot of people that could use some help,” said Monteleone.

The first Tree of Giving was dedicated to all the troops serving overseas. Visitors were encouraged to hang a special troop-snowman ornament or bring one of the their own.

A second tree was dedicated to all animal lovers, and Monteleone asked visitors to bring a gift for the animals: pet food, clothing, toys or gift certificates.

And the third tree, said Monteleone, was designated “to benefit the Sullivan County Food Pantry and all those that struggle to put food on the table.” Visitors were asked to bring a non-perishable food item.

“We had people from Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as New York. It was amazing because everyday when I would go into work, I’d see a few more bags underneath the trees of giving, so it was like Christmas everyday.”

Monteleone described a Brownie Troop from Eldred. ”They had a bake sale at Santa’s Village and  raised around $140. They all went shopping for food – all the little girls had their own shopping carts in the store. And they delivered the food the following weekend, each little girl came with her own bags.”

So last Wednesday, January 5, Lou Monteleone and his wife June (at right in photo), delivered over 400 non-perishable food items to the Sullivan County Federation of the Homeless. Boxes of pasta, cereal and cake mixes, cans of vegetables, jars of tomato sauce and baby food, bottles of juice and even a frozen turkey were gratefully accepted by Soup Kitchen Program Coordinator Esther Tyler and Chef Luis Rodriguez (left in photo above).

Tyler runs the housing program and oversees the area. “This is fantastic,” she said. “Do you know how many people we’re going to be able to feed? Last year at this time, we had about 38,000 pantries out, this year up to the same time, 70,000 pantries.” She explained that each package of three complete meals is considered a “pantry.” “We’re open five days a week. On the weekend, we give people meals to carry them over through the days we’re not open. In each package is breakfast, lunch and dinner. And for each individual in their household. Each package is considered a pantry.”

Clearly overwhelmed by the generosity, Tyler (at right in photo) added, “If it weren’t for caring people such as this, we would not be able to do it.”

The Federation’s soup kitchen serves a Continental breakfast on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and a hot breakfast on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and lunch Monday through Friday from noon to 1:00 p.m.

In addition there is a food pantry every third and fourth Friday from noon to 1:00 p.m. and an emergency food pantry is available 24 Hours/7 days per week by calling 845-798-8774.

The Federation is always looking for volunteers.