Oswego County Department of Social Services (DSS) caseworker staff received another donation for its “Caseworker Closet” from the First United Methodist Church of Oswego. Members of the church regularly provide a wide variety of items to help local families, ranging from diapers to cleaning and hygiene products to bedding and pillows.

“We are so thankful for the continuous support from First United Methodist Church of Oswego,” said DSS Community Services Coordinator Diane Godfrey. “Over the last four years, members of the church have been filling the closet with essential items that our caseworkers can distribute to our most in-need families. These items are often last-minute necessities, given out on an emergency basis as a stopgap either over a weekend or holiday, or to mitigate an immediate safety concern for a child.

“The members of the church do this out of the kindness of their hearts, and we truly appreciate each generous donation,” she added.

First United Methodist Church of Oswego member Heather DelConte reached out to DSS in 2019 with the idea of forming the caseworker closet. DelConte is a former Oswego County Legislator who, during her tenure learned a lot about the various difficulties caseworkers experience in their jobs, including providing for families who lack the essentials.

In her conversations with DSS staff, she found that caseworkers would sometimes use their own money to purchase emergency items for the families they work with. DelConte approached DSS about donating supplemental essentials and presented the idea to the Missions Committee at her church.

“DSS staff graciously cleared an area for the ‘Caseworker Closet,’ and our congregation created a donation space in the church entryway,” said DelConte. “Every few months, I check in with DSS to see what supplies are needed so I can present a wish list to the church members. Over the years, church members have very generously provided bed sheets, mattress covers, shampoo, deodorant, soap, baby necessities, laundry detergent, paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, toothpaste, toothbrushes, gas cards and more to the closet.”

In addition to the donation of household necessities, church members have donated children’s coats and hand-crocheted hats and gloves to DSS to be distributed to families in need. Donations continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with masked members of the congregation meeting DelConte to give her their donation items for the Caseworker Closet.

“I can’t say enough about the dedication of the congregation at First United Methodist Church of Oswego to step up and help with this effort,” said DelConte. “It is not a large congregation, and yet, members have consistently, and in many cases sacrificially, provided the supplies requested to assist caseworkers. I think they would all agree that the opportunity has been a mutual blessing.”

“With inflation in recent years and need ever increasing in our county, it has become more difficult to keep the closet as full as it needs to be,” DelConte added. “We are hoping that other churches or organizations may see this and decide to join in.”

DelConte and her children also delivered gifts to caseworkers over the holiday season last December to thank them for their hard work and dedication. Gifts included potted poinsettias donated by Dr. Bill Miller’s floriculture research program at Cornell University and ornaments hand painted by DelConte’s children.

“This effort has been a genuine blessing to our family as we are continually humbled by the incredible work caseworkers do on a daily basis; much of which is behind the scenes,” said DelConte. “We hope that highlighting this small project of gratitude only serves as a forum to educate our community about the sacrificial nature of these amazing individuals who choose to become caseworkers. They are unseen community servants who compassionately give – often more than they have to – to make sure our neighbors are cared for and that those challenged with difficult circumstances have hope.”

DSS welcomes individual and group donations for the caseworker closet. To donate items or to obtain the caseworker closet wish list, contact Diane Godfrey at 315-963-5524.

For more information about the Oswego County Department of Social Services, call 315-963-5000 or visit https://www.oswegocounty.com/departments/human_services/social_services/index.php.