One of Mount Kisco’s most dedicated volunteers could have easily basked in the limelight as she received an award recently for her efforts.
But that just wasn’t JoAnne Hochstein's thing.
Instead, she grabbed it as an opportunity to draw attention to the worthy cause — aiding and comforting the unhoused and those struggling with addictions — to which she and hundreds of other compassionate folks consistently devote countless hours.
Hochstein was supposed to have been among those recognized in July by Westchester County at its second annual District 2 Volunteers Awards ceremony. Hosting the Katonah event was county Legislator Erika L. Pierce.
But she was unable to attend because — natch — she was volunteering.
Instead, Mayor J. Michael Cindrich and trustees orchestrated a little ceremony at the Village Board’s Oct. 5 meeting.
Pierce met Hochstein through both The Pantry, formerly known as the Interfaith Food Pantry, which operates out of the United Methodist Church on East Main Street, and the nonprofit Emergency Shelter Partnership, which is comprised of a network of 35 houses of worship.
“She is one of the most selfless, giving people I know. It really is an honor to be able to recognize her,” said Pierce, teasing the attention-shy Hochstein for asking that the certificate of appreciation simply be mailed to her.
“She doesn’t want to be called out or have the spotlight put on her; she just does the work. She shows up for others all the time, in particular those far less fortunate than herself,” she said, adding: “We are so lucky to have JoAnne, so much better for having JoAnne in our midst.”
Hochstein served as ESP's president for five years and is now its director of program and community engagement and the representative for St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
She currently volunteers at The Pantry and is its past co-president and chair of operations.
Hochstein, who has lived in Mount Kisco for 70 years, said she was “truly blessed to receive something like this in my hometown.”
“My amazing daughter frequently tells me, ‘It’s not about you, mom.’ In this case, she’s absolutely right. This is about the eight employees, the 250 volunteers, the 35 congregations in the eight surrounding towns that provide shelter, meals and kindness during our 24-week season for the last 23 years,” Hochstein said of the ESP.
While the majority of its overnight guests are undocumented, there are at least four to six men and women who are citizens, but who have lost their homes, explained Hochstein.
The organization itself has faced and surmounted many challenges over the years, including employee needs, transportation and weather-related issues and how to safely operate during the COVID crisis, she said.
One of the more recent was the growing epidemic of alcohol and drug addiction among the homeless.
Not only is this creating “many undesirable issues,” it has claimed the life of one of the ESP’s guests and laid another low with pending liver failure, she said.
“Forty-year-old,” Hochstein said, shaking her head. “It just shouldn’t happen.”
The organization was recently invited to participate in a task force that, she said, it was “hopeful will resurrect many of the principles of one of our founders, Mel Berger, through the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Council.”
Berger, who died in 2021, was a longtime pharmacy owner known as a tireless community servant who helped countless citizens battling alcoholism, drug addiction and homelessness.
His daughter, Megan Castellano, a social worker, has agreed to join the ESP’s board.
“We expect to get a lot of information from her on how to direct people to resources where they can get treatment for this terrible disease,” Hochstein said.
She also addressed what she called “the many inaccurate comments that have surfaced on social media about our organization and others who serve the unhoused population.”
“I’m a firm believer in First Amendment rights but cannot understand the current tone of these personal attacks,” Hochstein said, adding: “Our town deserves better than that and we can all do better.”
She did not get specific about what those comments entailed, but it’s no secret that the issue of homelessness and public intoxication have been roiling the political waters of late.
Hochstein invited people with concerns or questions to give her a call, visit the organization’s website or — “better still” — volunteer at one of its upcoming shelter nights.
“We would welcome you to do that,” she said.
GOOD TO KNOW
For more information about the Emergency Shelter Partnership, visit esp-ny.org or The Pantry, thepantryny.org.
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