Marshall Miles Interviews Evelyn Garzeetta, Director Of Grace Immigrant Outreach, Foundation for Community Health on Demand Series

Mrs. Garzetta is the Director of Grace Episcopal Church Latino/Immigrant Outreach (GLO/GIO) Millbrook, in Dutchess County, NY since 2008.  She works with immigrants living in the Northeast part of Dutchess County helping them to live healthy and productive lives in their community.  As part of this effort, she also chairs the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Latino/Immigrant Outreach Roundtable Advisory Committee. Through her GLO/GIO labors there are ESL classes in Dover, Millbrook, Millerton, Pine Plains, Pleasant Valley, and Pawling. In 2014 she was one of the honorees at LA VOZ Ten Year Anniversary ‘Fiesta Celebration’.  In 2018 she is an Honoree for the Hispanic Heritage Community Service Award.

Grace Immigrant Outreach is incredibly grateful for the support that was given to us from many organizations including the Foundation for Community Health.

The stories have been the same everywhere during this worldwide health crisis, yet once it hits home, and in our case the clients which we support, it quickly becomes true reality. Your generosity was received with enthusiasm and gratefulness. This has allowed us to do many things for the immigrant community. There are many stories to tell but we have chosen to tell the ones about how people come together to assist those in need. Since COVID-19 began to exist in the Northeastern Dutchess area, the need for food has grown quickly and the amount of people who lost their jobs was upsetting to say the very least.

We have installed a modem that has been greatly beneficial in so many ways. We were able to assist and complete the 2020 Census forms for all the immigrants that came to pick up their food on distribution Fridays. We assisted over 250 people. At the completion of each 2020 Census computer session, we distributed a local grocery store gift card. We were able to hire two food distribution assistants. They pick-up food from Food of Life, deliver it to MESA (Mission Episcopal Santiago Apostal), pack bags of produce and then distribute. They disinfect after the distribution. They attend the giveaway area that consists of clothing, kitchenware, housewares, games, shoes, etc.