PUBLIC RECORD — GRANT WATCH

New York listed $37,824 for a Haverstraw food-pantry water upgrade. That does not mean the money has been paid.

A new state award list names Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland for a $37,824 capital project to upgrade the main water-service connection at its facility. The public record confirms the selection and stated purpose—not a signed grant agreement, a payment or completed work.

What the state record confirms

The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York's October 26 recipient list places the Rockland award in the Mid-Hudson region. It identifies the organization, county, amount and one-sentence purpose. Read the complete award list ↗

NY PLATES is a competitive capital program administered by the State Department of Health and DASNY. Its rules allow eligible food-relief organizations to seek reimbursement for capital work such as construction, renovation and infrastructure upgrades. The Rockland selection falls within the program's $25,000–$125,000 funding tier for emergency food programs and municipalities providing food relief.

“Awarded” is not the same as “paid”

The program rules are unusually explicit about this distinction: an award letter is not a commitment to provide funds. It is a commitment by DASNY to enter a Grant Disbursement Agreement, subject to the program's conditions. No NY PLATES money may be disbursed until that agreement is fully executed by both the grantee and DASNY. Read the request for applications and award rules ↗

Before an agreement, DASNY says it conducts financial, environmental, legal and site-control reviews. After execution, the organization may request reimbursement for documented work already completed; the rules say no advances or deposit payments will be made. Read the grant-agreement prerequisites ↗

What the reviewed record does not show

The public award list does not explain why the water connection needs upgrading, the project's total cost, a contractor, permit status, construction dates or whether the organization must supply additional money. The reviewed public records also do not show an executed Grant Disbursement Agreement, a reimbursement request or a payment. Those are the next records to watch.

The program permits DASNY to withdraw an award if required grant administration does not begin or an agreement is not executed within the stated deadlines. An awardee generally has three years after agreement execution to seek reimbursement for a completed project. That is a program rule, not evidence that this Rockland award will be withdrawn or delayed.

The pantry is open now; the award does not announce new hours

The organization's current page lists its food pantry at 78 Hudson Avenue in Haverstraw. It lists pantry hours Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m., Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. It asks first-time visitors to register at the office with original household identification and proof of address; the office number is 845-942-5791. Check the pantry's current instructions before visiting ↗

Those operating details come from the organization, not the state award record. Nothing reviewed establishes that the award expands eligibility, changes pantry hours or creates a new resident benefit today.

What this changes for a resident: Rockland now has a named state capital award to follow at a Haverstraw food pantry, but residents should not read the $37,824 listing as money already paid or a finished improvement.

Primary sources: DASNY NY PLATES recipient list ↗, published October 26, 2026; NY PLATES request for applications ↗; Grant Disbursement Agreement prerequisites ↗; and Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland food-pantry page ↗. Checked October 26, 2026, at 11:55 p.m. EDT. The Rockland Edit did not contact the recipient and does not claim that an agreement is unsigned; it reports that no executed agreement appeared in the reviewed public records.