Oros to Compete in Hillside Food Outreach’s Dancing Contest
George Oros, a former county legislator who currently serves as the chief of staff for County Executive Rob Astorino, will be one of eight local community leaders to compete in Hillside Food Outreach’s fourth annual Dancing with Our Stars competition. The contest will be held on Saturday, Oct. 6 at The Matrix Conference & Banquet Center in Danbury, Connecticut. The money raised from the event will help Hillside Food Outreach feed families and seniors in Westchester, Putnam and Connecticut.
Oros, a 58-year-old Cortlandt Manor resident, will be joined by Anne Joyce of Pleasantville, Robin Murphy of Chappaqua, Faith Ann Butcher of Mahopac as well as Connecticut residents Diane Disher, Bill Starbucks, George Mulvaney and Gerald McKinstry of Connecticut (who is representing Westchester through his role as a member of Newsday’s editorial team).
Each contestant has been teamed up with a professional dancer. The Arthur Murray Dance Schools of Danbury, Mount Kisco and White Plains have donated the services of their dance instructors to serve as the professional dancers.
“We are so fortunate to have these people, both the local stars and the pros, volunteer their time and help us raise much needed funds,” said Kathleen Purdy, founder and executive director of Hillside Food Outreach. “We are incredibly grateful for their sacrifice.”
Oros has been training since July with his partner Jamie Torres of the Arthur Murray Dance School of White Plains.
“I do not dance,” said Oros, who will be dancing a salsa with Torres. “My partner has been magnificent with me. She has been very patient with me and I am surprised with the steps that I have learned. Other people have tried through the years, but it never worked.”
Oros got involved after fellow contestant Robin Murphy approached him.
“I have been to the Pleasantville pantry before and I saw the good work that the organization does,” said Oros. “Coming from working in public service and government, I know full well that government cannot provide all of the services a community needs. That is why it is great to have organizations like this.”
The Hillside Food Outreach delivers healthy food to thousands of families and elderly individuals in Putnam, Westchester and Connecticut. More than providing a food pantry on wheels, Hillside offers specialized groceries for those with health issues.
“Many food pantries offer food that is high in sugar, high salt, high calorie, high fat, high carb foods, canned and processed foods, such as white pasta, white rice, cereal with high sugar contents, canned meats, etc.,” said Purdy. “I have seen people, such as those with diabetes, get sick from the food they get from a pantry, but they have to decide in between starving or compromising their medical issue.”
Hillside offers an alternative. “We deliver fresh fruits, vegetables, and fresh dairy products to people,” said Purdy. “We also offer gluten-free products for those who need it and healthy options such as brown rice instead of white rice for diabetics.”
By having teams of two regularly deliver to the same recipients, Purdy explained that an added benefit of providing a home-bound service is the relationship building. “I learned that there is more that goes into it than just food, she stated. “These are scared lonely individuals—particularly the seniors. By having the same volunteers deliver the packages they can develop a bond and the individuals can see that they are not alone and that somebody cares.”
The Dancing with Our Stars competition is one of two fundraising events that Hillside Food Outreach hosts annually. The second is a gala held in January. The money raised from these events assist the food outreach with its operating expenses as well as with buying food from the food banks.
“If I can do something to help raise awareness of Hillside Food Outreach and raise funds for its continued efforts, than I feel rewarded,” said Oros.
The partners will be competing for two awards—the judges’ award and the people’s choice award. Voting for the people’s choice award can occur before and at the event. Votes are $10 a piece and can be done online at hillsidefoodoutreach.org before Oct. 6.
Hillside Food Outreach is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization so the all of votes are considered tax-deductible donations.
Tickets for Dancing with Our Stars are available for $65 per person and include dinner and an open bar. Children’s tickets are available for $45. For $100, a person can get access to the event and the exclusive after party. Tickets are available through hillsidefoodoutreach.org.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
