Catholic Charities Open House Hosted at Ulster Community Center

Gathering Provided Community Members with Introduction to Programs, Services Available at Kingston Location

KINGSTON – Catholic Charities recently hosted a breakfast open house at the agency’s Ulster Community Center at 6 Adams Street, Kingston. The open house was an opportunity for volunteers, community members, parishes, and other non-profit and county agencies to reacquaint themselves with the programs and services available through Catholic Charities and learn about the additional programs that are now available as a result of the recent merger with Catholic Charities of Orange and Sullivan. Moving forward, the new merged entity will be named Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster.

Catholic Charities staff, leadership, and board members were on hand to meet guests, answer questions, and provide tours of the facility. Shannon Kelly, Chief Operating Officer for Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster, welcomed guests to the open house and served as the morning’s master of ceremonies. She provided an overview of programs which include a full-service, client-choice food pantry; a specialized kids’ pantry for diapers, formulas, and other essentials for pregnant women and families with young children; comprehensive case management services; immigration assistance, and year-round CYO programming for youth and families in a fully-equipped gym.

New to Ulster County is a grant-funded program coordinated by Catholic Charities as part of the NYS Targeted Response to Opioids. The opioid response team assists with access to treatment and referrals for those suffering from the disease of addiction, especially those who are located in the county’s hard-to-reach areas. Services include community-based treatment, telemedicine, and medication-assisted treatment.

“Expanding services in Ulster County is part of the ongoing strategy of Catholic Charities to localize services throughout the ten counties of the Archdiocese,” said Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, CEO, Catholic Charities of The Archdiocese of New York. “The establishment of Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster builds on the decade of successes in Orange and Sullivan Counties, and will bring new programs into Ulster, especially the opioid response team. The greater engagement of the Ulster County parishes and community will enhance Catholic Charities’ mission of providing help and creating hope for our neighbors in need – non-Catholics and Catholics alike,” added Msgr. Sullivan.

In addressing the audience, Catholic Charities Board Chair Tom Urtz said, “We are grateful for the leadership of long-time Director Tom Kelly for establishing outstanding Catholic Charities programming in Ulster County and appreciate his guidance as Ulster County Regional Supervisor Dominique Mills transitions in her new role. We are blessed to have outstanding staff and volunteers to provide a much-needed helping hand for those who may be struggling.”

The renovated St. Peter’s School, at 6 Adams Street, Kingston, will continue to serve as a multi-purpose community center and base of operations for Catholic Charities in Ulster County. Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster is a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit organization with a long history of service throughout the Hudson Valley. Catholic Charities offers a helping hand and a caring heart to those suffering from the disease of addiction and serves as a social safety net for families and individuals struggling with basic necessities of life, including food and shelter. The agency assists immigrants who are navigating the journey to citizenship and helps organizations with providing their employees access to quality social and human service support. Catholic Charities is committed to enhancing and improving the quality of life for the residents of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties.

For more information or to receive help, please contact Catholic Charities Ulster Community Center at 845.340.9170.

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