A Culture of Belonging: People’s Place Helps Ulster County Residents in Need
By Mathew Taylor
IT IS DIFFICULT—AND PERHAPS EVEN IMPOSSIBLE—TO IDENTIFY ALL OF THE ELEMENTS THAT MAKE A TOWN OR SMALL CITY INTO A COMMUNITY.
People’s Place- Mural by Eugene Stetz.
Some of the requirements are obvious, such as events that bring people together, a collective desire for civic engagement, and strong relationships between neighbors.
But one of the most important components is too-often overlooked: providing resources for people who are struggling and helping them satisfy their material needs. After all, a community that neglects its most vulnerable members is hardly worthy of the name.
People’s Place is a non-profit food pantry, thrift store, and community cafe in Kingston that fills this important role. The food pantry provides food and personal care items free of charge, and the community cafe serves prepared breakfasts and lunches. Cafe patrons who have the financial means can pay what they like for their meals, while those who are unable to pay can enjoy nutritious, delicious meals for free.
Executive Director Christine Hein explains that the core mission of People’s Place has remained consistent since its founding in 1972. An excerpt from the mission statement on their website says that their goal is “feeding, clothing and responding to the needs of the people in Ulster County with kindness, compassion and the preservation of human dignity.”
According to Hein, the function of People’s Place in the Ulster County community continues to be “to create a culture of belonging for everybody. We want anybody to feel that if they need help from us, we are here for them.”
People’s Place is best known for its food pantry and cafe, but they also provide other essentials, such as free clothing and haircuts. They work with other community leaders, organizations, and businesses to make their services as beneficial as possible.
For example, People’s Place has partnered with the Hudson Valley Farm Hub to offer organic, locally-grown produce for free at their farmers’ markets, which take place every Tuesday morning. They also work with Seek North, a Kingston-based kombucha business, to provide free kombucha—a rare feature of a food pantry or community cafe!
The default for similar organizations is often simply to provide whatever food is available and low-cost, but Hein sees the local produce and kombucha as important facets of People’s Place. “There are people who come here who would never be able to afford to try something like kombucha,” she explains. “There would be too much of a monetary risk. But now they can try healthy, nutritious alternatives and explore new options.”
Because of COVID-19, more people than ever are relying on People’s Place to help them meet their needs. Just since March of this year, there have been 700 new Ulster County households coming to People’s Place for assistance.
Hudson Valley Farm Hub offers organic, locally-grown produce for free at the People’s Place farmers’ markets, which take place every Tuesday morning.
The small staff (only three full-time and five part-time workers) has risen to the challenge, despite their volunteer base also being reduced by over half (from 130 to 50-60) because of the pandemic. Hein is very proud that People’s Place remained open throughout COVID, adjusting to the new conditions and increased demand.
The default for similar organizations is often simply to provide whatever food is available and low-cost, but Hein sees the local produce and kombucha as important facets of People’s Place.
“There are people who come here who would never be able to afford to try something like kombucha,” she explains. “There would be too much of a monetary risk. But now they can try healthy, nutritious alternatives and explore new options.”
Because of COVID-19, more people than ever are relying on People’s Place to help them meet their needs. Just since March of this year, there have been 700 new Ulster County households coming to People’s Place for assistance.
The small staff (only three full-time and five part-time workers) has risen to the challenge, despite their volunteer base also being reduced by over half (from 130 to 50-60) because of the pandemic. Hein is very proud that People’s Place remained open throughout COVID, adjusting to the new conditions and increased demand.
And these adjustments have been plentiful. They now deliver food and other items to those who are unable to leave their homes because of the virus, the cafe has switched to exclusively take-out in order to comply with current regulations, and certain services like haircuts now take place outdoors in the parking lot. They continue to provide necessary services for the increasing numbers of people who need some form of assistance.
Of course, People’s Place relies on contributions from those in the community who are able to give, whether that means monetary donations or time. Below are some ways that you can support People’s Place and, by doing so, help those who need it most during a particularly difficult time.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
In terms of donations, Hein explains that monetary contributions are always the most valuable. People’s Place always purchases items in bulk for their food pantry and cafe, and, with the holiday season fast approaching, they will also be stocking up for their upcoming programs. These include providing bag lunches during the holiday break as well as their Project Santa program, which involves gift distribution to children in low-income households.
Hein anticipates that there will be 300-400 more children in need of this program this year (usually there are around 2,000) based on the increased number of households using People’s Place services during COVID. It is also likely that the pandemic means that drop-off sites won’t get as much activity as usual this year, so any monetary donations will be extremely valuable both for normal operations and holiday programs.
You can donate at the donations page on People’s Place website or via Venmo, at @PeoplesPlaceNY.
If you would like to contribute your time, People’s Place is always looking for volunteers, and the need is greater than ever right now. Volunteers do need to be able to commit to being able to show up one day per week. The shifts are 4-4.5 hours, Monday-Friday between 9 am and 1:30 pm. People interested in volunteering can fill out the volunteer application form on People’s Place’s website.
People’s Place is making the Kingston community inclusive to all, and they work hard to cultivate the culture of belonging that Hein references. Giving back to your community can be one of the most rewarding decisions a person makes—if you have the resources and/or time, we strongly encourage you to consider supporting People’s Place and their important mission.