Hudson Valley Gives, a day of local online philanthropy, takes place on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Our goals are to raise $2,000 and connect with 25 new donors. If you are a past supporter, you are already incredibly special, and we hope you will donate to HVCS this HV Gives Day, too!
Hudson Valley Community Services saves and improves lives, even while we all cope with ongoing pandemics. Here at HVCS, we’ve felt the weight not only of the coronavirus pandemic, but also the co-occurring opioid overdose epidemic. At the same time, we underwent a merger. On March 1, 2021, we merged with Cornerstone Family Healthcare, a not-for-profit organization that serves much the same population as HVCS, and with a very similar mission. Both agencies operated from the belief that healthcare and quality of life are rights and not privileges. Healthcare for all, regardless of income level or social status, is our unofficial motto. HVCS is now a division of Cornerstone and all its programs, offices and staff have been retained. By consolidating our administrative functions we aim to be a viable community resource for decades to come, despite the constantly-evolving nature of healthcare and social services.
Throughout the past year of “quarantimes” our staff remained on the job, our syringe exchange program continued to operate, and we were here for our clients—who were among the hardest hit by the health disparities laid bare by the pandemic. Yes, we sadly lost some of our clients. Yes, some of our staff caught COVID-19 and had to quarantine. Yet HVCS soldiered on, and staff returned to our offices in shifts for two days a week, and remained available by phone and email the rest of the time. We reopened our food closets and started distributing nonperishable foods again in the fall. (Before that we mailed out supermarket gift cards.) Our donors—you included—enable us to carry on with this important work despite a 20% cut to our New York State contracts.
We are only able to be there for our vulnerable clients because of your help. You make this Hudson Valley a kinder, more compassionate place.
