By Liz Leamy
Several weeks ago in early December, more than half a dozen medical residents from Northwell Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, New York convened at the Bread of Life on Orchard Avenue in Rye, close to the main hub of town, to lend their hands and hearts to help assist this organization in their all-important function of providing food to people from all over Westchester County.
On a somewhat gray and also cold Monday, this amiable, focused and hard-working group of doctors, representing the Phelps Family Medicine Residency Program, lit this busy and dynamic venue up in sunny fashion with their enthusiasm, determination and terrific work as they helped organize, pack and give out food to the more than 150 families who stopped by the ever-popular Bread of Life that day.
Collectively, this high-energy contingent, who has been partnering with and visiting the Bread of Life since 2015, delivered the goods in every sense of the word, as they laughed, chatted and interacted with everyone in a terrific way, designating this visit as a win-win for virtually all of those on hand.
“We love coming here. It’s so wonderful and such an inspirational and immersive experience,” said Ruby Monichan, Resident at the Phelps Family Medical Program, adding that members of this group also lend their services to schools throughout the Westchester county area and travel to the Dominican Republic throughout the year as well. “Coming into home communities directly and interacting with people from this perspective is so important, informational and enlightening.”
Adam Raymond, also a Resident of the Phelps Family Medicine Residency Program, concurred.
“As family doctors, we want to have a community mindset and really know as much as we can about each individual we work with. It’s all about knowing and understanding the whole person. That is so important,” said Raymond. “I feel [being part of the pantry] is all about working together and helping each other. It takes a village.”
Sue Wexler, Bread of Life Community Outreach Director, agreed.
“We’re so excited to have the doctors from Northwell Phelps Memorial Hospital here,” said Wexler, a longtime Rye resident and Director of Community Outreach for Bread of Life. “Everyone here is just so dedicated and generous with their energy, heart and effort. It has really been a blessing to have them so involved with our organization.”
Indeed, the Bread of Life, run and managed by the Pastor Sherri Falco and her husband, Pastor Pasquale Falco, currently helps to feed more than 10,000 individuals in and around Westchester County on a weekly basis, and plays an important and truly life-changing role in the lives of so many.
*The Bread of Life Food Pantry operates every other Monday from 11:00-1:00.
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