Arelis goes to her the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry for fresh produce and a budget that stretches a little further. She brings hot chocolate for the volunteers and rides for the neighbors who can’t get there on their own.
On a cold pantry morning, Arelis arrives with something extra: Dominican hot chocolate for the volunteers working outside.
“They’re here helping everybody,” she says. “So I asked myself, what can I do to make them feel welcome?”
For Arelis, the hot chocolate is a small way to return the kindness she experiences each time she visits. She describes the pantry team with the same word again and again: amazing.
“I love these people here,” she says. “I really appreciate them.”
That support makes a meaningful difference for her household. With rent, groceries, and other essentials taking up more of the family budget, the food Arelis brings home helps create some breathing room.
“Every time you go into the supermarket, you spend $100 on three or four items,” she says. “Here, at least, people have the opportunity to get things they really need at home.”
Fresh fruits and vegetables are among her favorite items to pick up. During one visit, she noticed leafy greens growing near the pantry and was delighted.
“I said, ‘Oh my God, that’s amazing,’” she recalls. “I really love it.”
Arelis was also surprised to learn how far this kind of support reaches. Her pantry is one of 175 community partners Feeding Westchester works with, including food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, and shelters, to help make nutritious food accessible throughout the county.
“A lot of people really need it right now,” she says. “To have this kind of support is a blessing.”
Arelis does more than encourage others to visit. She helps them get there.
When the weather is cold or rainy, she offers rides to neighbors who might otherwise have difficulty reaching the pantry. She pays particular attention to older adults and people who cannot walk easily.
“I tell the people who really need it to give it a chance and come by,” she says. “And if they can’t come, I help.”
One older neighbor calls Arelis when she needs support. Even when Arelis cannot pick her up, she looks for another way to help.
“I told her, ‘Don’t worry. I’ll try to bring it for you.’”
Her advice to someone considering a first visit is simple: take the first step, and ask for help getting there when you need it.
“Look for a way,” Arelis says. “It’s a good idea to come.”
At the pantry, care moves in both directions. Volunteers welcome neighbors, fresh food helps families stretch their budgets, and Arelis makes sure that support reaches the neighbors counting on her, one cup of hot chocolate and one ride at a time.
“We really need people like that,” she says. “We appreciate them so much.”
