Restaurants team up to feed the needy
Countywide effort Project Resilience also aims to keep businesses afloat
Twelve Ulster County restaurants, from Saugerties to Milton and from Kingston to Ellenville, have joined forces in an effort to feed needy community members while keeping their own staffs employed and their businesses afloat in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan said Tuesday.
Deputy Assistant County Executive Dan Torres said that number is expected to grow as businesses become aware of the launch of the countywide effort known as Project Resilience.
As of Tuesday afternoon, $2 million had already been raised towards a $5 million goal, Ryan said. The initial donor or donors have requested anonymity, Torres said by phone after the press conference.
Ryan said the county secured the initial donations in under 24
hours along with partnerships with municipal governments, local businesses and not-for-profits.
Anyone who self-identifies as someone in need of food will be able to receive meals through Project Resilience’ once it is up and running, Torres said.
The Project Resilience fund will be run by the Ulster County United Way and will soon include an online portal and a distribution network that will include some “repurposed” Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) buses.
To donate, request meal delivery, assistance, or to sign up as a participating business or service provider, visit https:// ulstercountyny.gov/coronavirus.
Torres said UCAT continues to provide bus service in the county because “it is critical for people to get food and [meet] other urgent needs.” A schedule of bus services is available online at https://ulstercountyny.gov/ucat/ulstercounty-area-transit.
Ryan said monies available to participating restaurants will allow them to retain staff who might otherwise have been laid off. Beginning at 8:30 p.m. Monday, a directive from Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered restaurants to close their dining areas and serve only take-out and delivery food.
“It will be an honor and a privilege for all three of our restaurants to participate in Project Resilience. Providing meals for those in need is extremely important to us and our community,” Eric Cafaro of Palizzata in Kingston and Tony and Nick’s Italian Kitchen in Ellenville said in a prepared statement. “Also trying to keep some of our staff on board so they can provide for their families is important to us as well. This is an incredible program provided by the county and we look forward to helping in any way that we can.”
Participating restaurants, as of Tuesday afternoon, included Santa Fe Restaurants in Kingston and Woodstock,
Tony & Nicks Italian Kitchen in Ellenville, Country Club Grill in Ellenville, Palizzata in Kingston, Sue’s Restaurant in Saugerties, Frida’s Bakery & Café in Milton, Main Street Bistro in New Paltz, Rosendale Café in Rosendale, Hudson Valley Dessert Company in Saugerties, Dallas Hot Wieners in Kingston, Lake Katrine and Saugerties, Savona’s Plaza Pizza in Kingston and Provisions in Woodstock, according to the press release.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, “there has been a groundswell of support and outreach from residents looking to find out how they can help vulnerable members of our community,” Ryan said at a press conference that was streamed live on Facebook.
Last week, Ryan declared a state of emergency in the county and directed the closure of all schools and suspension of county services for two weeks.
As of Tuesday, Ulster County Commissioner of Health Dr. Carol Smith said, the total number of cases in which an individual tested
positive for COVID-19 in Ulster County is eight. Since Monday, there had been one additional case in Lloyd and two in Saugerties, Ryan said.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Assistant Deputy County Executive Daniel Torres said the two Saugerties cases are residents who were tested in New York City and are quarantined there.
On Tuesday afternoon, the New York State Department of Health said there are now 1,374 positive cases of the virus statewide, including the eight in Ulster, 16 in Dutchess County, two in Greene County, and 15 in Orange County. Sullivan County Public Health Director Nancy McGraw announced late Tuesday that Sullivan County reported two more cases to bring the county’s total to three.
Ulster County officials are no longer providing any identifying information about new cases aside from their town of origin to protect their privacy.
Both Ryan and Smith said just over 80 residents have been tested for the virus and, of those, “the majority” have tested negative.
The county expects to receive an additional 250 kits shortly, but a shortage of testing capacity “continues to be a limiting factor,” Ryan said.
Smith said 250 kits are not enough, but testing will be “triaged” and provided first to the “most vulnerable” and those at highest risk.
“As we do more testing we are likely to have more cases,” Ryan said. He said mobile testing sites will be set up in the county as more tests become available.
Smith has said 80 percent of those diagnosed with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms, while 20 percent will have more severe symptoms and that thousands of people have recovered well from the coronavirus
“I’m trying to maintain a sense of optimism, but I’m also a realist. As we do more testing, I know we’ll see more positive results,” she said.
Smith encouraged residents to follow the guidelines for social distancing and hygiene provided by the World Health Organization. Those who do not practice these precautions my be spreading the virus unintentionally, she said.
“This is literally about saving lives,” Ryan said.
The federal government will have to step up to help state and local governments accommodate the anticipated “surge” in a need for hospital beds, medical materials, space, “and even personnel,” Ryan said.
Also in response to the virus, Ryan said the county Legislature is expected to freeze spending on Tuesday night “except for its coronavirus response.”
According to the Dutchess County Emergency Management Facebook page and Sean McCann at the county executive’s office, the National Guard is helping to distribute bottled water in the county.
Ryan and Smith will hold another live-streamed town hall at the county executive’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ UlsterCountyExecutive/ on Wednesday, March 18 at 12 p.m.