By Joe Bevilacqua The building at 221 Canal Street is a sanctuary for the area's poorer residents 365 days a year. But around the holidays, the demands placed on the staff and volunteers at Family of Ellenville increase as temperatures drop and families in poverty need help to feel something that approaches 'holiday spirit'.

Family's holiday programs include the distribution of Thanksgiving holiday food baskets (this year they reached 135 families) and a toy drive for area youngster.s

FAMILY OF ELLENVILLE'S OUTREACH According to data from the United States 2000 Census, Wawarsing is home to 2,216 men, women and children in 393 families (13.3% of Wawarsing's population) living below the poverty line. In 2006, Family of Ellenville provided hotline and walk-in services to 12,644 contacts from the Ellenville area in 2006, including the following: 111 individuals and their families received intensive case management services 37 individuals received substance abuse and other addictions counseling 89 individuals received mental health counseling 78 individuals received assistance in applying for entitlement programs 277 individuals and their families found or retained permanent housing 39 individuals found employment or job training 40 victims of domestic violence or their perpetrators participated in Family's domestic violence programs 13 individuals sought HIV testing and other HIV services

The nonprofit organization receives most of their toys from Rosemary Pomerantz and the Toys for Tots program, as well as through individual and business donations. This year, however, Family will be helped by a donation from the Town of Wawarsing's Republican Committee.

"We will be able to do a little more, possibly for some older children," says an elated Lisa Cavanaugh, Program Director of Family of Ellenville, the local hotline and walk-in center program of Family of Woodstock.

Family of Ellenville offers an easily accessible way for people to begin to work on any problem or situation in their lives that is too much to deal with on their own, says Cavanaugh.

Their phone is answered 24 hours a day by a person, not a menu, and their walk-in center means people can come there without an appointment, at no charge. Most people are referred to Family of Ellenville by a friend or another agency, according to Cavanaugh, who adds that during the first contact people usually say, "I don't know if you can help me but…"

Cavanaugh says, "We cannot solve anyone's problems. What we can do is to listen without judgment, without rescue, but with respect."

"When people can speak freely and safely to an objective ear, they often hear their own solutions. If we can then connect them to their next step, we do so," she explains.

Issues include mental health, physical health, family and other relationships, legal issues, financial issues, addiction issues.

Much of their work has become assisting people with basic survival. Volunteers put out coffee and day-old bakery items every day.

"Shop Rite and Stewarts are very generous to us," says Cavanaugh.

Many people eat breakfast, lunch, or after school snack at Family's offices every day. The joy someone shows at finding an alarm clock on the giveaway table or a child's coat from the free store is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.

FAMILY OF ELLENVILLE Hotlines, Walk-In Centers, Emergency Food, Counseling, Case Management, Free Clothing and Household Items 221 Canal Street, Ellenville, NY 12428 (845) 647-2443 Fax: (845) 647-2460 Email: foeh@familyofwoodstockinc.org Program Hours: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Mon, Wed 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Tues, Thurs, Fri Hotline: 24 hours a day

Some come in simply for a little companionship. The front room is a gathering place where people support each other. Information on jobs and housing is posted on a board, as well as information regarding other services and timely topics. Many community groups, 12-step programs, and local and county agencies use their meeting spaces.

Cavanaugh says their services are very cost effective because everything used and given away is donated. Only two staff members are paid by Family; everyone else is a volunteer or in a job training program, etc.

In the winter months, coats, hats, gloves, and boots are distributed to those in need. Volunteers and donations are always needed and accepted.

Family of Ellenville also houses staff from the Domestic Violence Services, the Adult Case Management Services, and Adolescent Non-Residential Services of Family. In addition, Family has a residential program for homeless adolescents, Midway 2, located on Warren Street in Ellenville.

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