Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus recognizes Sandra Fuentes as the Citizen of the Month Award winner for the month of July. Fuentes and her family created the Sunday Blessing Food Pantry during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was inspired by residents affected by COVID-19 and her own battle with the disease in March.
“Sandra is a thoughtful, hard-working woman and her contributions to the community have been extraordinary,” said Neuhaus.
Fuentes has owned and operated Bliss Boutique, a women’s clothing and gift store in the Village of Goshen, since January 2018. She was forced to close the store in March and later was diagnosed with COVID-19. Fuentes’ husband, David, who works in New York City, also contracted the disease.
During Sandra’s battle with COVID-19, she began to think about residents who also contracted the disease and lost their jobs. Fuentes reflected on how grateful she is for everything that she and her family have, and the Sunday Blessing Food Pantry was born.
Fuentes recently re-opened Bliss Boutique and collects food in her garage at her Goshen home. Each Sunday, her husband, their two daughters, Kelsy, 22, and Vanessa, 23, and other volunteers deliver groceries to those in need. The Fuentes family has been inspired by generous donations from the community, which have included gift cards, and hope to permanently run Sunday Blessing.
For more information or to donate, email info@blissboutique.com.
To nominate someone for the Citizen of the Month Award, email ceoffice@orangecountygov.com or mail to “Citizen of the Month” at 255-275 Main Street Goshen, N.Y. 10924. Include nominee’s name, hometown, a list of their accomplishments, why they are being nominated. Nominees must be from Orange County.
July’s Citizen of the Month, Sandra Fuentes of Goshen (center), & her husband, David, are pictured with Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus (right).
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