Haverstraw, NY – Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland has launched its second annual Fall Harvest Fundraiser, a campaign designed to raise money for local families and individuals who use the organization’s food pantry. The fundraiser runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 30 and coincides with Hunger Action Month, a national September campaign focused on raising awareness about hunger and food insecurity. Organizers have set a $5,000 fundraising goal for this year’s campaign. According to Catholic Charities, all money raised through the fundraiser will directly support people who rely on its food assistance programs in Rockland County.
The fundraiser is connected to Catholic Charities’ Garden of Love, an on-site vegetable garden at its Haverstraw location. The garden was established in 2010 with assistance from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program and is maintained through collaboration involving Catholic Charities, St. Ann’s Parish and Good Samaritan Hospital. More than 2,000 pounds of fresh vegetables are grown and distributed to area residents from the garden each year, according to the organization. Catholic Charities says the garden supplements food purchased by the organization and items received through donations and other food assistance programs. Its food pantry is located at 78 Hudson Avenue in Haverstraw.
As part of the Fall Harvest Fundraiser, donors can make contributions based on symbolic purchases of vegetables associated with the garden. Donation levels include $20 for a bell pepper, $35 for a sweet potato, $50 for broccoli, $65 for squash, $80 for an eggplant and $100 for a pumpkin patch. The donations are not purchases of the actual produce. Instead, the vegetable levels are used as fundraising categories, with the proceeds supporting the food pantry and its services. Catholic Charities says its purchasing partnerships in the Hudson Valley allow the organization to provide the equivalent of four meals for every dollar donated.
A new feature of this year’s campaign allows participants to establish individual fundraising pages or create teams. Families, friends, businesses, community organizations and other participants can use those pages to collect donations toward the campaign’s $5,000 goal. The organization is also encouraging participants to share information about the fundraiser through social media and other community networks.
The campaign follows the organization’s inaugural Fall Harvest Fundraiser in 2025. That effort originally set a $3,000 goal but ultimately collected $4,655 for the food pantry. Catholic Charities reported that the money went toward providing food for Rockland County residents who use its services.
Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland provides several forms of assistance in addition to operating the food pantry, including homelessness and eviction prevention services, case management and other emergency assistance. The organization reports serving more than 23,000 people annually. Its Haverstraw food pantry currently operates Tuesdays from noon to 2 p.m., Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 to 10 a.m. New food pantry users are required to register with the organization before their first visit.
The Fall Harvest Fundraiser will continue through Oct. 30. Donations can be made through Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland’s fundraising campaign. For more info visit: https://ccrockland.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/27