Dutchess Outreach’s Food Pantry operates like the express lane at the grocery store: always busy, always efficient. Between the hot meals and their routinely stocked shelves, the organization caters to almost 1,000 community members a month.

While the organization is wildly successful, their proximity is what sets them apart.

Poughkeepsie’s Family Partnerships Center houses more than 20 organizations, from the Sadie Peterson Delaney African Roots Library to a gymnasium to a branch of Dutchess Community College. It’s become a one-stop shop for community members in need of essentials.

“Being able to partner with the health care organization and their dietary staff so that we can stock the foods that are best for people is only going to move the needle more, because what we know is food is medicine,” said Dr. Renee Fillete, executive director of Dutchess County Outreach.

To continue supporting the community they’ve created, the Family Partnership Center has began a capital campaign to finance improvements. The funds aim to fix the roof of the 100-year-old building, repair the front steps, provide accessibility to all guests and improve the efficiency of the building.

Most recently, the campaign received $1.2 million as a part of Congressionally approved funds. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney was in attendance to see how the building plans to use them.

“You have to invest in people. You have to believe in people, and that’s what I like about this place,” said Maloney. “This is not about me or any one person. This is about teamwork.”

As head of Dutchess Outreach, Fillette’s working relationship with other organizations in the center are instrumental.

“It’s also important just because of the relationship I can build within the building," Fillette said. "I just have to go upstairs to talk to a health care organization to say, ‘hey, how can we improve your patient’s overall health and community health?’ ”

According to Brian Doyle, chief executive officer of the Family Partnership Center, the goal for the Capital Campaign has been set at $9.2 million, having amassed $6.2 million as of the federal funding announcement.

“We’ve enjoyed support from the city of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, the state and now the federal government,” said Doyle, then listing private donors and trusts that have contributed. “There is so much good work being done here. So much youth being served here. I’m grateful for all the people that do the work for the kids and families of this community. The kids and the families deserve the resources that are offered here.”