About

About CHHOP

Our history

In the winter of 1988, a man who had nowhere to go suffered severe frostbite in Peekskill from living outside. That tragedy galvanized members of the Peekskill Community, who met weekly in Dr. Janet Foy’s office to brainstorm about immediate housing solutions. 

Members of the committee donated what they could and solicited financial support from others in the area, including the Peekskill Area Pastors Association (PAPA) and committed community members to create a safe place for those without a home. Although many of those early pioneers who founded CHHOP, including the indomitable Dr. Foy are no longer with us, their spirit, passion and compassion live on in Jan Peek House, a 24-hour 365-day a year shelter for adult men and women. 


In 2007 we added Jan Peek Drop-In services providing shelter, food and supportive services. Over the years, CHHOP has added in new programs, including Fred’s Pantry, our food pantry. In 2014, CHHOP started a program to assist VA eligible veterans access housing and healthcare. The Turning Point program was launched to assist with the varied and complex issues faced by people with disabilities. CHHOP partnered with My Sisters' Place and Lifting Up Westchester, in 2019, to create, RISE, a program geared to providing holistic services to survivors of domestic violence so that they can rebuild their lives with compassion and dignity. 

CHHOP's Mission

At Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP), we believe that every person is entitled to safe and affordable housing and healthy, nutritious food. We work to alleviate hunger and homelessness in Peekskill and the surrounding area by providing temporary housing, long-term housing, advocacy, and clinical and support services to veterans, domestic violence survivors, and chronically homeless men and women. We also provide healthy and nutritious food through our food pantry to those who are hungry and facing food insecurity.

MEET OUR CEO

Cynthia B. Knox, Esq., is the CEO of Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP). CHHOP works to alleviate hunger and homelessness in Peekskill, New York, and its surrounding areas. As CHHOP’s leader, Knox successfully increased the organization’s revenue by over 225% percent, increased private revenue by over 17% and program staffing by 280 percent within five years. She has also developed additional programs in response to community needs, including a collaborative RISE Program for domestic violence survivors. She has transformed CHHOP’s food pantry into a “farm to pantry” model with a rigorous focus on health equity.


Under Knox’s leadership, CHHOP has received recognition for its dedication to helping those in need, including the 914 Inc. Women in Business Leaders in 2023, Crain’s 2023 New York Notable LGBTQIA+ Leaders, the 2022 New York State Empire Award, the 2022 Peekskill NAACP Distinguished Service Award, and the 2022 Feeding Westchester Neighbor Service Award.

Knox's social justice work spans more than three decades, with 20-plus years of nonprofit executive experience working on behalf of low-income individuals. She has developed programs and funding for specialized populations, advanced strategic partnerships, and led performance management processes in her leadership roles.

Knox has served on numerous boards, committees, and commissions. Currently, Knox serves on the Executive Committee of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce, the Westchester County Community Development Advisory Group, and the New York-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital Community Advisory Board.

Knox holds a JD from CUNY Law School and a BA in Philosophy from Sarah Lawrence College.


MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John A. Smith

Chair

Marianne Oros

Vice Chair

A Peekskill native, John A. Smith joined the board of CHHOP in 2018. Smith grew up in Peekskill and then moved to the Midwest with his family, living in Toledo, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Kansas City, Missouri and Hamilton, Ohio before moving back to Buchanan, New York. Throughout most of his career, Smith worked in the manufacturing industry, before retiring from his vice president position in 2010. Drawing upon his computer and data analysis skills, Smith began working at a hospital as a project manager and continuous improvement mentor and instructor. When he returned to New York, Smith supported the hospital’s data needs remotely for 18-months. He still maintains several clients remotely. Passionate about Peekskill, Smith is a member of, and volunteer for, the local NAACP. As a volunteer, Smith uses his computer skills to assist CHHOP and several Peekskill entrepreneurs.

Marianne Oros was introduced to CHHOP when she joined the annual Turkey Trot committee and accepted the position as board member in January 2023. She has a genuine commitment to assist and support community-based organizations that serve those in need.
Marianne is the Immediate past chair of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber (HVGC), board and founding member of the HVGC Foundation; former vice chair of the Keon Center and current board member and development chair of Abbott House. 

Marianne has over 35 years of healthcare experience. She worked at Westchester Medical Center in various roles, and also as the senior vice president for Planning & Strategic Development, for the NYS Department of Health and various nursing homes in quality improvement. Marianne received her RN/ BSN and Masters in Public Administration from at Pace University. 

Ellen Bloom

Secretary

Ellen Miles

Recording Secretary

Ellen Bloom joined NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital in April of 2015 as director of marketing, community outreach and development after having worked in the healthcare field for over 30 years. Ellen assumed overall responsibility for the community affairs department for NewYork-Presbyterian in Westchester County in 2019. In this role, she learned about the importance of CHHOP in our community and was thrilled to be appointed to the board of such an amazing organization. Ellen cares deeply for the community and has been active in numerous advisory boards and service organizations in Westchester County. She received a Bachelors’ Degree from Lehman College and MPH from New York Medical College. Ellen and her husband, Cary, have been married for 35 years. Her son, David, is a board certified pediatrician in a fellowship program in Pediatric Cardiology with St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Her daughter, Rachel, is a camp director in Brooklyn, New York. She is proud of how her family cares for others.

Originally from Western New York, Ellen Miles called the lower Hudson Valley home for more than 18 years. Miles joined the CHHOP board in February 2020 to give back to the community and to utilize her skills to help fight hunger and homelessness.


She first became aware of CHHOP and its work through the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown (FPCY) where she was an active member of the FPCY and served on Session, the Mission Commission and taught confirmation classes to young adults. She holds a BS degree in Business from Alfred University and an MBA from SUNY Buffalo. Miles has 30-plus years of Human Resource Management experience in the consumer package goods industry.

Pastor Valerie Paul-Greenaway

Treasurer

Ruth Wells
Board Member

Pastor Valerie Paul-Greenaway joined the United Methodist Church of Peekskill in 2022, offering a unique combination of team building, education, research, community health promotion, the arts, public health, faith-based, pastoral care, case management, caregiver, leadership and human services experience.


As a board member for CHHOP, her desire is to leverage vast experience in human services, education, advocacy and mental health awareness in support of client care and community outreach. She is in the process of completing her Masters of Divinity from Drew University. A graduate of Leadership Orange (2014), Pastor Valerie is a certified Anger Management facilitator and a Mental Health First Aid for Youth trainer. She holds a Bachelors of Art in Behavioral Science and has completed her pre-law from Marist College.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ruth Wells and her husband, Jim Knight, have been Peekskill homeowners since 1988. They have put down deep roots in their adopted hometown. Wells, who holds a BA from Oberlin College and an MFA from Temple University, first became involved in Peekskill civic life in 1999 when she volunteered for a local election campaign. She volunteered on the Middle School Bond Campaign and on the PSCD Strategic Plan Evaluation Committee. In 2008, Wells began serving on Peekskill’s Planning Commission. Wells has served on the CHHOP board since 2005, first as secretary, then chair and vice chair. She is a founder of Fred’s Pantry. During her 10 years with Fred's, she coordinated  distribution of 14,000 meals annually.

Liana Knudsen

Board Member

.Amy Perlow

Board Member

Born in the Bronx, Liana Knudsen’s family moved to the Peekskill area when she was 8-years old. Knudsen is the owner of Auntie Liana’s Baked with Love, a home-based baking business.


She also has a career as a senior print production manager. In her spare time, Knudsen enjoys dancing and performing. She joined the CHHOP board in 2016 as a way to become more active in the community.


Knudsen believes that the best way for her to spend her time and resources is to ensure that the needs of hungry and homeless individuals, especially veterans, are met. She is excited to be working with the CHHOP board and its CEO to move the organization to the next level of its development.

Amy Perlow is a Peekskill-based consultant who works with non-profit organizations to prepare students for success in college, career, and community. She currently develops tools and systems across a large network of NYC public high schools and coaches a portfolio of schools to ensure students graduate with a clearly articulated plan for continued education, training, or employment. In prior roles, she directed partnership programs between the City University of New York (CUNY) and the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) - the two largest education systems of their kind in the country. Perlow holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from SUNY Binghamton, and a Master’s degree in Social Policy from SUNY Empire State College. She also serves as board chair for the Black Diamonds Academic Success program, and as education committee chair for the Peekskill NAACP.



Sara Weaver
Board Member
Kym McNair
Board Member
kym mcnair

Sara Weaver joined CHHOP's board of directors in 2021 to become more connected with the Peekskill community that she and her family adopted five years ago.


Sara has spent years working in the consumer product goods industry, in both a marketing and sales capacity. She spent 13 years at Danone and recently left that position to pursue her passion with a smaller company, Belgian Boys. At this new company she leads the marketing and sales strategy.


It is her combined passion for food, communication strategy and serving others that Sara has found her niche on the CHHOP board.


Kym McNair is the director of social transformation at My Sisters’ Place (MSP), a domestic violence agency in Westchester County. In her role, she develops and facilitates trainings grounded in MSP’s guiding principles for health care professionals, law enforcement, college students, religious communities and non-profit organizations to help them recognize and respond to domestic/Intimate partner violence in their professional and personal lives. She is also an anti-racist trainer and organizer with The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, a multigenerational, multiethnic collective, based in New Orleans.

She’s a member of the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advisory Committee (IDEAC) for the Town of Bedford and is a member of the town’s Police and Community Working Group, which is a follow-up from the statewide Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative work mandated by former Governor Andrew Cuomo.  Kym was ordained by the Central Hudson Baptist Association in 2014 and received recognition from the American Baptist Churches of New York State in 2021.

MEET OUR STAFF

Candice Blyden-Gill, M.P.A. 

Program Director DV CE

Candice's graduate degree course work afforded her a wealth of knowledge in servicing individuals through the public private sectors. Candice holds a MPA in Public Policy and is pursuing a Doctorate in Public Administration. 


Candice has worked in an array of disciplines in the social service field and values the phrase helping others to help themselves. As a Program Manager DV CE, Candice identifies barriers to independent living and makes appropriate community linkage referrals and provides advocacy for the clients to obtain and sustain community living.

Robert Gioia

Case Manager


When he was in high school, Robert Gioia did an internship with a social worker who was working with autistic children. He was touched by their lives, which led to his exploration of a career in social work.  Gioia went on to study social work at the University of Fairfield in Connecticut and graduated with a Masters of Social Work (MSW).  While he was in college, Gioia applied for a job as a Client Case Worker at CHHOP and was hired part-time. He later interned with CHHOP case managers to satisfy his field work requirements for graduation.  During his internship at CHHOP, Gioia helped out at Fred’s Pantry x CHHOP, assisted Turning Point clients with shopping and worked with case managers on assessments and getting in touch with clients. Most recently, Gioia was promoted to Case Manager and he now works directly with CHHOP clients.

Jeff Miller

Operations Manager


Jeff Miller brings high levels of efficiency and innovative process changes to CHHOP, resulting in cost savings and improved services. Miller recently earned an MBA in information systems, and graduated with honors, which complements his career achievement in managing business transformation projects that help colleagues succeed. Working behind-the-scenes, he ensures that the facilities are safe and secure and that regulatory procedures are followed.  In addition, Miller co-manages the HR function with the finance manager.

Jana Bluestein

Finance assistant


Jana joined CHHOP finance team in October of 2022. In 2007, she graduated from CUNY Hunter College with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She has an extensive background working in social services and affordable housing. Jana is passionate in her beliefs that all members of the community have the right to affordable and sustainable housing and that this is the first step in finding stability. Jana’s role at CHHOP allows her to bring together her desire to advocate for members of her community in need and her love to work with numbers.

Jaylyn Retamar

Jan Peek House Manager


Jaylyn's motto is, "Become the bright light for others, when the world becomes dark."  As a Peekskill native, her goal is to give back to the same community that gave her so much growing up, by furthering her education in order to advocate (and be the light) for all vulnerable populations. 


Jaylyn graduated from Dominican University in Orangeburg, NY in 2018 with an English degree. She is currently pursuing her master's degree to be a force to be reckoned with in the nonprofit sector as an advocate for those at a disadvantage.


Jaylyn looks forward to providing Jan Peek clients with the tools and the resources to be their own light and to help light their own paths, empowering individuals to obtain independence and self-sufficiency. 

Ryan Maier

Office Assistant


Ryan  joined the CHHOP finance team in February of 2022. After working in the insurance and financial services industry for years, Ryan was in search of a career change. 


Realizing his passion for helping people, Ryan decided to pursue human resources (HR), studying SHRM Essentials of Human Resources at Baruch College and earning a professional certificate in human resources and talent management from Michigan State University. He loves that his role at CHHOP allows him to incorporate skills from his days in financial services, while also developing new HR and administrative skills. He finds a great deal of fulfillment in working for an organization with such a community based mission.

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Mailene Ramos

Progam Manager for

Tierra Solida / Solid Ground


Born and raised in the Bronx, Mailene's early childhood influences propelled her dedication to community advocacy. As a Fordham Law graduate and lawyer, she had worked under the Ferrick Center for Social Justice in several projects focusing on immigrant justice, civil legal advice, housing rights and pandemic relief funds. As a Community Economic Development clinic student, she aided in the formal incorporation of non-for-profit startups. Her work in the Public Interest sector awarded her the 2023 Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award. 


Mailene aspires to utilize her time, resources and skills to support human rights, public interest and environmental justice. Here at CHHOP, she will dedicate and avail herself to support the Peekskill community, the CHHOP team and in developing CHHOP's new Tierra Solida/ Solid Ground program. She has found a great deal of fulfillment in working for an organization with a strong community-based mission. 

Tamika Trotman

Sr. Case Manager DSS


Tamika Trotman is the Case Manager for Jan Peek House residents. She provides case management services to homeless individuals who have been placed at the shelter by the Department of Social Services. As a case manager Trotman provides support services, advocacy, and resources in order for clients to obtain overall independence and permanent housing. Trotman graduated from D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York with a BS in Health Services.  Trotman has more than 10 years of social services experience in multiple areas including working with at risk families, HIV/AIDS populations, and housing.

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Erika Febres

Office/Finance Manager


Erika Febres joined CHHOP's finance department in 2018 and was promoted to office/finance manager soon after she was hired. With a background in finance, insurance, and community service, Febres has been a great addition to the CHHOP team. Febres takes initiative and enthusiastically fulfills her duties and goals ensuring that she is able to keep CHHOP’s finance and human resources operations running smoothly.  Her passion for community service is deeply rooted in her upbringing. Her father was an avid advocate for new immigrants and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Febres dedication and leadership skills are essential to fulfilling her role in maintaining financial structure for the organization and facilitating budgetary policy with CHHOP's CEO.

Arthur Holmes

Fred's Pantry Coordinator


Arthur joined CHHOP as a Client Care Worker and was promoted to Senior Client Care Worker in 2019. In February 2020, Arthur stepped up to the plate and started running Fred’s Pantry, when after many years of service, Ruth Wells and Jim Knight retired. In this role, he coordinates food orders and distribution and manages a host of volunteers. His efforts enabled Fred's to not only remain open during the Covid-19 pandemic, but to serve a three-fold increase in the number of food-insecure clients facing economic hardship.



Kyisha Mackey

RISE Case Manager


With more than 10 years' experience working in the healthcare field, Kyisha always had a passion for helping people. She dedicated her time to assisting individuals from all walks of life with mental health, housing and employment services. 


She joined CHHOP mid-winter 2022 as a client care worker at Jan Peek House, where she realized how much more she wanted to give back to the community.  Because of great rapport with clients and strong communication and organizational skills, she was promoted to RISE case manager in spring 2022. 


Kyisha graduated from Westchester Community College in 2017 with a major in psychology. Her goal is to work toward a master's degree and continue making a positive impact on the lives of others. 

MEET OUR CLIENT CARE WORKERS

The Client Care Workers at CHHOP are an integral part of keeping our operations running smoothly.  Client Care Workers are the ones who make sure that our clients have what they need for a successful stay at Jan Peek House as they rebuild their lives. Creating a warm and welcoming environment and a positive atmosphere are just two of the important contributions of our Client Care Workers, each of whom brings their own unique skills and talents to their job. The Client Care Workers provide direct care, guidance and supervision to residents of the program as well as assist in the oversight of daily routines of living at the shelter. They also foster positive socialization and interaction among residents.

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