Mount Saint Mary College recently donated 53 sets of gently-used residence hall furniture to Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster.
The furniture will be used to update the accommodations at the human service agency's residential campus in Monticello.
"We are so very grateful to our friends at Mount Saint Mary College for their continued support of Catholic Charities' mission to provide help and create hope," said Shannon Kelly, CEO, Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster. "As they make room for a new program on campus, the furniture they no longer need will enhance the living spaces for our clients who are working toward recovery. It's a wonderful collaboration."
At the Mount, the donation was coordinated by Brian Moore, Director of Purchasing; and Christina Musacchio, Purchasing Support Manager.
The furniture came from the college's Guzman Hall, which is currently being prepped to house the Mount's Community Engagement and Wellness Center. The center will provide medical and educational services for low-income individuals and families, including the uninsured. It will also offer workshops, family counseling services, fitness checks, immunizations, professional development events, and more for local residents.
Catholic Charities serves those in need in Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. Programs includes a continuum of treatment and recovery assistance for addiction, including the residential treatment program located in Sullivan County, and social safety net programs, such as emergency food and shelter assistance, for those who are struggling with the basic necessities of life.
The Mount and Catholic Charities have longed enjoyed an excellent relationship. For more than a decade, Campus Ministry has coordinated a toy drive for the children and families served by Catholic Charities. Generous donations from the college community have brightened Christmas for thousands of children over the years.
Catholic Charities also benefited from a donation of "blessing bags" recently. The bags assembled by an all-star team of Mount scholars contained hygiene items including toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and deodorant. The effort was spearheaded by Marie-Therese Sulit, associate professor of English, director of the Mount's Honors Program, and faculty advisor for Alpha Chi.