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Rockland County Approves $2 Million Emergency Food Assistance Plan Amid SNAP Withholding
Rockland County approved a $2 million Emergency Food Assistance Plan with the Regional Food Bank to help families impacted by the federal SNAP benefit lapse caused by the ongoing government shutdown.
More than 19,000 Rockland households, including more than 54,000 children and adults, are affected and face increased food insecurity.
The plan will roll out in two phases through Nov. 30. The first phase, now underway, includes $700,000 in grants to 43 local food pantries and $300,000 for countywide food distribution events. A second phase will follow if the shutdown continues.
At the first event, held November 6 at Clover Stadium in Pomona, volunteers distributed 20,000 pounds of food—enough to serve about 375 households. More events will be announced in the coming days, and the Regional Food Bank is seeking volunteers to help with future distributions.
The second phase, set to activate November 15–30 if the federal shutdown continues, will extend the same structure to sustain support through the end of the month.
Montefiore Nyack Hospital Awarded Accreditation from Joint Commission
Montefiore Nyack Hospital has once again received accreditation from the Joint Commission.
This independent organization sets standards for safe, high-quality patient care through its healthcare accreditation program. Joint Commission Accreditation supports Montefiore Nyack Hospital’s dedication to meeting strict performance standards and providing safe, high-quality care.
Montefiore Nyack Hospital underwent a thorough, unannounced onsite survey in August. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission surveyors assessed compliance in key areas, including emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, medication management, and quality and performance improvement.
“We are especially proud of our team for their ongoing dedication to delivering the absolute best healthcare services to our patients,” said Anthony Matejicka, DO, MPH, FACP, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Montefiore Nyack Hospital. “We continue to make significant improvements across all clinical areas, demonstrating that high-quality and safe patient care is a core value of our hospital. These initiatives lead to tangible benefits for patients, staff, and our organization.”
Joint Commission surveyors conducted on-site observations and interviews to identify strengths and areas for continued improvement. Joint Commission helps ensure healthcare organizations follow top-quality and safety practices, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and a commitment to better patient care.
“Joint Commission congratulates Montefiore Nyack Hospital for achieving accreditation by demonstrating its focus on delivering safe and effective care of the highest quality and value,” says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, Joint Commission. “Through the accreditation process, we worked closely with (Organization Name) to enable and affirm the highest standards of healthcare quality and patient safety. Together, we are elevating care for all patients, and we appreciate Montefiore Nyack Hospital’s collaboration throughout this process.”
Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect Provides Free Community College Tuition, Fees, Books, and Supplies for Eligible Adult Learners in High-Demand Fields
State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. last week visited SUNY Rockland Community College as part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour. Chancellor King has been visiting SUNY community colleges throughout the state to promote New York’s free community college program for adult learners, which officially began at the start of Fall 2025.
Under Gov. Kathy Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect initiative, New York State is providing free tuition, fees, books, and supplies for adults ages 25-55 who don’t already have a college degree to pursue an associate degree in a high-demand field.
During his visit, Chancellor King emphasized SUNY Rockland Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant, Nursing, and Automotive Technology programs. To learn more about the SUNY Reconnect degree programs available at SUNY Rockland Community College and apply for the Spring 2026 semester, visit https://sunyrockland.edu/financial-aid/financial-aid-dept/freecc/.
“SUNY Rockland Community College empowers students with the opportunity to transform their lives, make an impact, and chase their dreams with a high-quality education,” said King. “Through Governor Hochul’s SUNY Reconnect program, community colleges throughout New York have been able to welcome adult learners to pursue degrees in high-demand fields with free tuition, fees, books, and supplies. I applaud SUNY Rockland Community College for providing a well-rounded and engaging education to adult learners, to help them advance their careers, enrich their communities, and support our economy through the SUNY Reconnect program.”
To support the launch of SUNY Reconnect, SUNY has:
- Allocated $4 million to community colleges to support SUNY Reconnect programmatic implementation through advising, enrollment, outreach, award of credit for prior learning, and other student services, supports, and campus operations. SUNY Rockland Community College received $120,000 which will be used to fund stipends for existing staff to support adult learners with individualized advising; provide staffing support for re-engagement, application support, and weekend enrollment assistance and services; create and launch a digital marketing campaign and other supports; provide faculty stipends and assessment tools to evaluate and award Credit for Prior Learning; and support additional student services staff stipends and hourly staffing needs for SUNY Reconnect program implementation, including technical and financial system updates, award packaging processes, and other operational needs.
- Provided an additional $1 million to cover equipment, materials, supplies, and other one-time needs to increase student enrollment capacity in high-demand programs that are part of SUNY Reconnect. SUNY Rockland Community College will allocate its $35,000 to their Nursing program to purchase and install advanced audio/visual equipment and instructional technology, and support faculty training for the development of a new simulation debriefing environment. With this simulation lab expansion, SUNY Rockland Community College anticipates it will be able to expand its nursing program capacity by an additional 15 to 20 students per semester in the 2025-26 academic year through increased clinical training capacity.
In addition to SUNY Reconnect, the FY25-26 Enacted State Budget provides $8 million in increased operating aid to community colleges – the first back-to-back operating aid increases in decades for these institutions – and maintains the 100 percent community college funding floor, which protects community colleges from $75 million in lost direct state tax support.
