|
Jan Peek House opened in Peekskill in 1988, founded by Peekskill residents in response to local issues of homelessness. It is the only shelter in northern Westchester. Jan Peek grew to be the organization known as CHHOP (Caring for the Hunger and Homeless of Peekskill).
Over the decades, CHHOP expanded its services to include drop-in services (overnights), veterans' services, supported housing, eviction prevention, and a food pantry. Fred's Pantry serves over 350 households twice weekly with groceries, including locally-grown produce.
Census records show most of Peekskill residents to be low to moderate income, and nearly half are burdened by housing costs. Renters are about half of the population of this small city of about 25,000 persons. Homelessness remains an issue, and half of Jan Peek clients are from Peekskill.
Over the years, Peekskill Rotary has been involved with CHHOP in many ways. In addition to providing weekly meals to Jan Peek - the subject of this application - we annually participate in CHHOP's Turkey Trot to benefit the Pantry; regularly support CHHOP with grants; and currently have joined with Peekskill Walks in a city-wide food drive for the Pantry.
Jan Peek House accommodates an average of 34 regular clients, in addition to drop-ins. Since its founding, Jan Peek has been housed in a rented facility which does not have a full kitchen. Cooked dinners for 40 persons are brought in by volunteers most days of the year. Since 2009, Peekskill Rotary has purchased meals from local restaurants, and club members have delivered them to Jan Peek. Meals are made available to the regular shelter population and to the drop-in clients, who are admitted later in the evening.
Currently, one Rotarian is responsible for the scheduling of deliverers and she has taken this role for many years. Each Wednesday, a club member picks up the food from a local restaurant and delivers it to Jan Peek. About eight people regularly participate in delivery. Half are members who cannot attend daytime meetings, and this gives them an opportunity to serve. This arrangement will continue through this Rotary year.
We seek funds from the District to offset the cost of this program. We do not yet know what our costs will be, but expect it to be about $4000 (it was $3480 in Rotary year 2024-25). With District support, the amount that we don't spend will be directed to other charitable projects in our community.
| 
