Media Coverage of Visits to Homes Welcomed Thursday; Deliveries Occur Weekly
NEW HAMPTON, N.Y. (April 8, 2020) – The Michael & Erin Martucci Family Foundation and Town of Greenville Supervisor David Zubikowski are teaming up with Bottoms Up Restaurant and Pub in Slate Hill and Freedom Hill Farm in Mount Hope to deliver nearly 70 meals to senior citizens at their homes Thursday, April 9, 2020. Media coverage is invited.
Government directives to fight the spread of coronavirus by staying home and ensuring social distancing can particularly affect senior citizens. These cordial visits and healthy meals let these seniors know that they are vital members of our community, their well-being is valued and that others are willing to go the extra mile to ensure that they remain socially connected to the fabric and quality of life of Orange County.
“These visits are so heartwarming,” said Michael Martucci, a farmer and entrepreneur. “We befriend the senior citizens we visit, and ensure they’re safe and coping well with the implications of the coronavirus pandemic. We want them to know they have not been forgotten. It’s just one way the Michael & Erin Martucci Family Foundation seeks to benefit our community.”
Zubikowski, understanding the importance of outreach to senior citizens during this turbulent period, put together this coalition of local partners. “Connecting is so important for seniors in need, and a good ready-to-enjoy meal that doesn’t require cooking or cleanup helps ease their day,” he said. “We’re thrilled to help put a smile on their faces – and, in addition, generate restaurant business when it’s sorely needed.”
Recipients are need-based, homebound seniors affiliated with the Greenville Senior Center, which has members from the towns of Greenville, Minisink and Wawayanda, as well as the City of Middletown. Other seniors at the center also can request the service, and additional requests for meal deliveries can be submitted to Zubikowski at (845) 856-6333.
Seniors select a nutritious hot lunch prepared by Bottoms Up Restaurant and Pub, which provides the meals at a great discount as part of its commitment to public service. The meals typically consist of a meat, starch and vegetable, along with bread and a bottle of water. This week, Freedom Hill Farm in Mount Hope is graciously donating soup for every senior citizen.
Each Thursday, the Martucci Foundation delivers meals to seniors as part of its mission to inspire and empower members of the community. The foundation has committed to contributing $250,000 over a three-year period to any number of organizations that fall within the following categories: education, women’s and children’s advocacy, agriculture and job creation.
Michael and Erin Martucci are lifelong residents of the Hudson Valley and Catskills regions. Both come from families with strong ties to the local community and they are sharing that same community-mindedness with their growing family. Michael and Erin reside in New Hampton with their two children and own a family farm in Westtown, Orange County. Learn more about the Michael and Erin Martucci Family Foundation at MartucciFoundation.org.
Members of the media who will be providing news coverage are asked to gather at Bottoms Up Restaurant and Pub, 1965 Route 284 in Slate Hill, at 11 a.m. Thursday.
