Press Release: Festival of Hope

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FESTIVAL OF HOPE CONCERT TO BENEFIT WHEELCHAIR RAMP PROGRAM

Binghamton, N.Y., March 18, 2010 . . . . .The second annual “Festival of Hope” concert on May 16 featuring congregational choruses and sponsored by the Broome County Council of Churches will benefit the Council’s wheelchair ramp program.

The concert is open to the public and is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 16, at the Conklin Presbyterian Church, 1175 Conklin Road, and is expected to feature 10 choruses. For its finale, the choruses will join together to sing the Messiah. No admission will be charged, but there will be a free-will offering with those proceeds used to offset construction material costs of the Council’s free “Ramp It Up 2010” wheelchair program. The ramps for those in need will be constructed on summer weekends

“Thirteen wheelchair ramps were constructed last summer providing safer access for residents in and out of their homes,” the Rev. Dr. Joseph Sellepack, executive director of the Council of Churches, said. “More than 200 volunteer youth and adult mentors built the ramps—we hope to have as many volunteers, or more this year based on the success of our initial efforts in 2009.”

People who have applied for ramps this year are encouraged to attend the concert, as are those who received ramps in 2009.

Congregational choruses interested in performing at the concert are asked to call Judy Mica Guerin at the Council of Churches at 724-9130 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or email her at jmica@broomecouncil.net.

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Tally ho -- it's census time in Broome

Tally ho -- it's census time in Broome

Within weeks, Americans will be asked 10 questions that could affect almost every aspect of life in some way.
They'll be taking part in the national census, which the U.S. Constitution requires every 10 years. The survey forms will start arriving in homes this week.

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In September, Binghamton and the New York Department of State convened a meeting of Binghamton stakeholders to discuss the logistics of Complete Count, a program to build awareness of the 2010 census and encourage response, Ryan said. Participants included Fairview Recovery Services, Broome County Veteran Services, the Family Enrichment Network, the SOS Shelter, the Free Clinic, AVRE, the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse, Southern Tier Independence Center, NAACP, Opportunities for Broome, Broome County Urban League, Binghamton's school district and Housing Authority, the First Ward Action Council, City Council, Citizen Action, the Southern Tier AIDS Program, the Prison Re-entry Task Force and Hands of Hope Ministries.

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Press Release 2-22-10: Dining for Dollars Event

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL CLERGY TO SERVE DINNER, ENTERTAIN AT CLERGY-SERVER EVENT TO BENEFIT FAITH IN ACTION VOLUNTEERS

Binghamton, N.Y., Feb. 22, 2010 . . . . . Local clergy will serve dinner and entertain at the 5th Annual “Dining for Dollars - A Clergy Server Night” on March 18, 2010, to benefit the Faith in Action Volunteers, a program of the Broome County Council of Churches.

Clergy have volunteered as servers and entertainers for the event, to be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 18, at the Polish Community Center, 347 Prospect St., Binghamton. Attendees are urged to bring dollar bills and tip their pastors for their services. All tips and proceeds from the dinner will support the Faith in Action Volunteers program, which provides services to the infirm and elderly in Broome County.

“Faith in Action Volunteers provide assistance to the frail, elderly and disabled populations,” said Joanne Kays, Faith in Action Volunteers program director. “Our 300 volunteer caregivers provide non-medical services to over 400 frail, elderly and disabled care receivers. They assist with non-medical tasks, such as transportation and household chores, which enables our clients to maintain the dignity of living independently.”

The clergy scheduled to work as servers on March 18 include: Fr. Matt Brown, Fr. John Donovan, Fr. Corey VanKuren, Fr. Jim Dutko, Rev. Patricia Raube, Rev. Andrew Morrison, Fr. Clarence Cerwonka, Rev. Art Suggs, Rev. Monica Stryon, Rev. Tony Hipes, Fr. John Martinichio, Fr. Timothy Taugher, Rev. James Walck and Deacon Edward Blaine.

Social hour is 6 p.m. followed by the family-style dinner. Entertainment includes the Binghamton University Jazz ensemble under the direction of Mike Carbone. Cost of the dinner is $25 a person.

Reservations are required by Thursday, March 4. For information and reservations, call the Council of Churches at 724-9130 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Press Release: Annual Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BROOME COUNTY COUNCIL OF CHURCHES TO HOLD ANNUAL MEETING

Binghamton, N.Y., Feb. 3, 2010 . . . . . The Broome County Council of Churches will hold its 2010 annual meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 21, at First Presbyterian Church, 29 Grant Ave., Endicott.

The Rev. Janice Devine, co-pastor, will provide the homily, and the Rev. Dr. Joseph Sellepack, executive director of the Council of Churches, will give the state of the Council.

A worship service will begin at 2 p.m., followed by a business meeting and fellowship gathering. Light refreshments will be served.
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Press Release: Lenten Services

BROOME COUNTY COUNCIL OF CHURCHES LENTEN SERVICES BEGIN FEBRUARY 17, 2010


Binghamton, N.Y., Feb. 2, 2010 . . . . . The Broome County Council of Churches will sponsor mid-week Lenten services at noon on Wednesdays, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 17, at Holy Nativity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 312 E. Main St., Endicott.

Guest clergy will conduct the services each week. The Rev. Dr. Joseph Sellepack, executive director of the Council of Churches, is scheduled to lead the service on Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2010.

A light lunch will be provided for a nominal fee in the church hall after services. All in the community are welcome, and the facilities are handicapped-accessible.

For more information, call the Council of Churches at 724-9130, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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Press Release: Council Elects New Board Members

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BROOME COUNTY COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ELECTS NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Binghamton, N.Y., Feb. 1, 2010 . . . . . The Board of Directors of the Broome County Council of Churches elected two new board members at a directors meeting on Jan. 28.

They are: Rich Grant, a member of Blakely, Pa., Primitive Methodist Church, and Todd Eames, a member of Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church, Vestal. Terms of office are for three years. Mr. Eames is filling the unexpired term of Raymond Osterhout, who died recently.

Officers elected at the meeting are: Susan Burtis, president; Patrick Regan, first vice president; Jennifer Cubic, second vice president; Cindy Burger, secretary; and Larry Denniston, treasurer.
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Press Release Sent to Media 1-13-10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APPLICATIONS FOR WHEELCHAIR RAMPS REQUIRED BY MARCH 1


Binghamton, N.Y., Jan. 13, 2010 . . . . . Residents in Broome County who need a wheelchair ramp to get in and out of their homes need to apply by March 1, 2010, to the Broome County Council of Churches to be eligible for consideration for a free ramp under the Council’s “Ramp It Up 2010” Program.

The Council of Churches will evaluate each application based on the needs of the recipients. In 2009, the Council of Churches with the cooperation of several organizations and youth groups and mentors built 13 ramps during the summer.

“Some members of these families probably hadn’t been out of their homes in years,” according to Joanne Kays, director of the Faith in Action Volunteers Program of the Council, who coordinated the “Ramp It Up 2009” Program with Greg Jenkins, Volunteer/Facilities manager of the Council.

Last year the Council of Churches raised more than $25,000 for the ramp program, including a grant of $9,000 to the First Ward Action Council from The Community Foundation of South Central New York, and $10,000 from Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church. Other participants were Home Depot, Broome Leadership Institute of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, and several congregational youth groups. Some teams raised additional money for the ramps that they built. Estimated cost for each ramp is about $1,500.

“The Council of Churches took this opportunity to help groups work together through this intergenerational program,” said Mr. Jenkins. “It gave the youth from a dozen congregations a realistic look at what some members of the community, including the elderly, go through confined to a wheelchair. It was an eye-opener for the youth, and most residents seemed to enjoy having the young people around for a weekend.”
In 2009, 13 families received a ramp, usually constructed over a single weekend. More than 110 youth worked within the 2009 inaugural program. The ramps this year are scheduled for construction on weekends May through August.

For an application, contact Mrs. Kays at 724-9130 ext. 304, or visit www.broomecouncil.net. Ramp application deadline is March 1.

Under the Council of Churches’ youth mentor initiative mission statement, it says “…the initiative is a volunteer mission to promote service, learning, and community involvement for youth.”

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Press Release 10-7-10

SONGWRITER SHOWCASE TO BENEFIT CHOW, OTHERS
Binghamton, N.Y., Jan. 7, 2010 . . . . . The “Songwriter Showcase” featuring Zarni with songs from her debut CD, “Friday Night Lights” will perform at the Cyber Café West , 176 Main St., Binghamton, at 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, to benefit CHOW (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse) of the Broome County Council of Churches and WHY-Artists Against Hunger & Poverty.
Suggested donation at the door is $5, with half of the proceeds going to CHOW and the other half to WHY. The audience is also encouraged to bring food donations to benefit the two charities.
Zarni will have a backup band featuring Joe Lane, Jamie Osterhout and Sean Kanazawich. Also scheduled to appear at the showcase are Todd Evans, Dan Fluegel, John Kanazawich, Jeff Stachyra and Steve Strauss.

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Press Release 12-8-09

WENDY’S PROMOTION SUPPORTS CHOW FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Binghamton, N.Y., Dec. 8, 2009 . . . . . Four Wendy’s restaurants in the area are supporting the Broome County Council of Churches’ CHOW Program to help feed the hungry with two promotions during the holidays.

First, anyone who brings a non-perishable food item (no glass containers please) to the restaurants during the month of December will receive a free frosty coupon. Secondly, on Wednesday, December 16, during the hours of 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., 20% of all proceeds will go to CHOW (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse).

The four Wendy’s restaurants are located on Main Street and Front Street, Binghamton; Main Street in Endicott, and the Vestal Parkway East/Rt. 434, Vestal.

CHOW is experiencing a 25% increase in requests for food this year. Wendy’s offered a similar promotion last year to help CHOW, according to Deacon Edward Blain, CHOW program director.

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Press Release for Operation Safeguard

OPERATION SAFEGUARD SEMINAR AT BC COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
Binghamton, N.Y., Nov. 12, 2009 . . . . . In an effort to assist the local faith-based community be more prepared against violent episodes in both public facilities and during religious services, three government agencies and a non-profit organization are conducting a Homeland Security program entitled “Operation Safeguard” at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 7, at the Broome County Council of Churches.

Spearheading the program are the Council of Churches Jail Ministry Program, the Broome County Office of the Sheriff, the New York State Office of Homeland Security and the New York State Police. The program is designed to assist local congregational leaders and clergy recognize and thwart potential violence in light of an increased number of recent violent episodes at public gatherings, and in particular during religious services.

The Council of Churches office is located at 3 Otseningo St., Binghamton. For directions, additional information, or to RSVP for the meeting on Dec. 7, please call the Council at 724-9130, or email Rev. Cris Mogenson, the Council’s Jail Ministry chaplain, at bcjchaplain@juno.com.

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