(Photo credit: Peter Lyons Hall L to R: front row: Destiny Hallenback; back row: Barry Cheney, Orange County Legislator; Peter Hall, Rumshock Vice President; Dan Hartyer, Jr., Florida NY Mayor; NY State Senator, James Skoufis; NY State Assemblyman, Karl Brabanec; Warwick Town Supervisor, Jesse Dwyer; and Village of Greenwood Lake Mayor, Tom Howley.)
Recognizing that it takes more than a village to address the housing needs of veterans in Orange County, NY, elected officials from the US Congress, New York State, Orange County, New
York, the Town of Warwick and its villages collaborated to serve guests at the Annual “At Your Service Dinner” to benefit the Rumshock Veterans Foundation recently on September 17, 2024 at The Landmark Inn Restaurant in Warwick NY.
This year’s attendees included Destiny Hallenbeck, Deputy District Director for Congressman Pat Ryan (who remained in Washington DC for an important vote); NY State Senator James Skoufis; NY State Assemblyman Karl Brabenec; Barry Cheney, Orange County Legislator; Warwick Town Supervisor Jesse Dwyer; Florida NY Mayor, Dan Harter Jr.; and Village of Greenwood Lake Mayor Tom Howley.
Hallenbeck reminded the dinner guests of what Congressman Ryan had announced earlier this year, when he was able to allocate $1million in funding for the Rumshock project: “No veteran should be without a home in the country they put their lives on the line to defend. I pushed relentlessly to get this project included in this year’s budget, and I couldn’t be more proud to have secured these funds for the Rumshock Veterans Village to address veteran homelessness in Orange County.”
NY State Senator Skoufis and Assemblyman Brabanec continue to work tirelessly to support veterans causes. Skoufis said that there is “heightened interest to make sure that our veterans in New York have the programs in place that taxpayers chose to send money to support them,” reported the Albany Tmes-Union earlier this year. At a Port Jervis meeting of Veterans in March 2024 Brabenec stated that “Any step we as representatives can take to ensure our veterans find safe, comfortable and affordable housing when they return home is a worthwhile effort, and I’m thrilled that Port Jervis’ veterans will now have access to further facilities that support them and their specific needs.”
There is no way to adequately thank the men and women who sacrificed so much for our freedom and safety. We can offer them a second chance – an opportunity to be successful members of a supportive community! The staff and volunteers at Rumshock Veterans Foundation are working to offer veterans the opportunity to improve their physical, mental, and emotional health as well as reconnect with society through meaningful activities, by constructing a village of 10 tiny homes in the city of Port Jervis, NY. There are five components to the Foundation’s sustainable program: 1) Rumshock Village, a sustainable community of 10 single family homes; 2) Hydroponic Farming, maintained by Village residents; 3) Transportation, to assist Village residents in making appointments to healthcare providers and other necessities; 4) E-Waste Recycling, involving the recovery of materials to be used in future production; and 5) Canine Companionship, for needed emotional support.
Students in the construction class at the Orange-Ulster BOCES campus, under the direction of Corey Moore, are building the 10 tiny homes (20×20′) in a prefabrication style. Later they will be assembled at the property in Port Jervis, NY. Rumshock Veterans Foundation, Rumshockvf.org, is a 501 (c) (3) organization. Plans for the residential project are available to review on its website.
The exquisite dinner was prepared by award-winning chef Michael DiMartino and the beverages were provided by sponsor Desi Smyth, founder of SecureWatch24.com.
