The Catskill Chronicle

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (July 13, 2011) – Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D, C – Forestburgh) announced yesterday that she has secured the funding necessary to save the Federation for the Homeless soup kitchen from closure.

“The ramifications of closing the soup kitchen would have been unthinkable,” said Gunther. “The hundreds of families whose very survival is dependent on its operation will continue to receive the services of the Federation for the Homeless.”

The funding will allow the soup kitchen to continue to operate while a long-term solution to fund the program is developed.

“I am committed to working with the staff at the Federation to keep the soup kitchen open as long as the need for these services continues in our community,” said Gunther, indicating that her office will continue to work with Federation staff to identify other funding sources.

“From the moment we learned that our grant request was not funded, Assemblywoman Gunther went to work to make sure our doors stayed open,” said Steve White, Executive Director of the Federation for the Homeless. “Aileen showed the tenacity and dedication to our community that makes her one of the greatest assets we have in Sullivan County.”