VOORHEESVILLE — For the dozens of people who depend on the New Scotland Community Food Pantry for help, $10,000 will go a long way. 

The volunteer-run not-for-profit food pantry on Monday was the recipient of $10,000 secured by Assemblywoman Gabriella Romero’s office.  The non-denominational pantry has operated out of the Catholic Saint Matthew’s Church on Mountain Street in Voorheesville for decades. 

The pantry primarily serves the town of New Scotland and residents of the  Voorheesville Central School District — but no one seeking help is ever turned away, said Dennis Ulion and Ivan Gotham, two volunteers responsible for much of the pantry’s day-to-day operations.

Help isn’t always a given at some food pantries, like those in some high-need areas of Albany, which have residency requirements, and Ulion and Gotham observed that New Scotland had seen a 30 to 35 percent increase since last month, when food pantries all over the country saw increases for services due to the federal government shutdown.

“We have about 70 active clients,” Gotham said, but “not all those 70 come every month. Some wait till they’re in trouble, and then call the hotline.”

Gotham estimated that New Scotland has about 40 regular monthly clients, but when entire households are taken into account, the food pantry every month serves over 100 individuals. 

The pantry is able to work miracles with its annual budget of $40,000. 

In addition to the monthly services its offers to dozens of town and school-district residents, the New Scotland Community Food Pantry provides:

— The Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School monthly with food donations;

— Fuel stipends to those who qualify;

— Back-to-school supplies for students;

— Pre-boxed Thanksgiving meals;

— A December holiday meal; and

— Gifts to children during the holidays.