Food Drive for CHOW

TigerTronics to hold UE food drive

April 28, 2010, 8:25 am

Union-Endicott’s TigerTronics robotics team is holding a food drive for the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse in all seven UE schools through May 12. The team then will count the food item and determine which school collected the most and how many pounds of food was collected in total.

See Article Here

— Jennifer Micale

CHOW Chili Cookoff Winners

Chili contest winners named


May 4, 2010, 7:08 am



Bob Griffin of Cheesehead Chili of Endicott won first place in the ninth annual state Chili Championship sponsored by the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse May 1 at the Binghamton University Events Center.

Dan Polhamus of BU’s Smoldering Spoon Chili came in second, followed by Brad Kaminsky of BU Alumni
in third. All three state winners will compete in the international competition in Telinqua, Texas, in November. Seventeen cooks participated in the cook-off.

Other winners include:

* Salsa: First, Danny Williams of Better Days Chili, BU; second, Sue Michaels of Front and Center Chili, Owego; third, Joseph Abbate of Better Days Chili, Endicott


* Showmanship: First, BU Alumni; Second, Team Sodexo, BU; third, Rose Blaine of Grandma Rose’s All American Chili of Endicott

* Open competition: First, Danny Williams of Team Sodexo, BU; second Joseph Abbate of Better Days Chili, Endicott; third, Jim Penzo, of Beat the Heat Chili, Windsor

See Article Here

WBNG: Lives of Commitment

Faith in Action Breakfast

Originally printed at http://www.wbng.com/news/local/93072034.html

Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) Local churches recognize extraordinary volunteers for their service with the elderly.

The Broome County Council of Churches held their annual Lives of Commitment breakfast.

It's part of their Faith in Action program. It has 300 volunteers helping hundreds of elderly residents throughout the county.

The volunteers assist them in day to day tasks so they're able to live independently in their homes.Opposed to living in assisted care center.

Friday morning, three women were recognized for their efforts.

"service is for many of these women the driving force or their purpose in life. And I think they really serve as a remarkable example of what can be accomplished right here in our own community." said Kathryn Madigan

Services of the Faith in Action program include providing transportation and grocery shopping.

The group also arranges the homes of the elderly to make it easier navigate.

See Video Here

News Channel 34 5/7/10

Stamp Out Hunger

Saturday is the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

The National Association of Letter carriers is asking people to leave non-perishable food items by your mailbox Saturday.  When they drop off your mail, they'll also take the food and deliver it to CHOW, which will distribute it to area food pantries.  It's the largest one day food drive in the nation.

Dan Bankhead says, "Last year we collected about 16 thousand pounds of food, 8 tons locally. Nationwide this is our 18 year and if we can collect 23 tons of food this year we'll go over one billion pounds for the career of the food drive."

The Letter Carriers Association says it's important to participate this year because more people are out of work and using food pantries than in previous years.

See Article Here

YYN (Your News Now): Lives of Commitment Breakfast

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Putting faith into practice. That's the goal of the group Faith in Action and Friday, it honored some of its own.

Around 300 showed up for the 12th annual Lives of Commitment Breakfast in Binghamton. The event honors several volunteers who have lived up to the faith in action creed.

"I think that by doing good for others, you do good for yourself. We live in an amazing community where people come out of the woodwork to help each other. What we're trying to do is create networks of relationships between people so we all benefit from it," said Rev. Joseph Sellepack.

The interfaith event honored two women this year, primarily for their work with the elderly and disabled.

See Video Here

WBNG Facebook Post: CHOW Farm

WBNG-TV Action News May 8th, residents in Broome, Chenango, and Tioga Counties will seecrews in their community gardens. Current Rural Health Service Corps members will provide a day of local service Growing Community project. Members will be working in the following gardens: CHOW Farm; Binghamton Urban Farm Project; Liberty St Community Garden; Apalachin Elementary School Garden; Owego Community Garden; and Oxford Community Garden.

Letter From Edy’s Fruit Bars and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation

Hello Deacon Edward Blaine,


On behalf of the Communities Take Root program, we are thrilled to officially applaud your organization – Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (Broome County Council of Churches) - for winning a fruit orchard as part of the Communities Take Root program.


Supported by Edy’s Fruit Bars and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, the mission of Communities Take Root is to award fruit orchards to deserving communities across the country. As a winner, it is our hope that a fruit orchard will not only beautify and strengthen your community, but will also encourage healthy eating along the way.


A representative from the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation will be contacting you directly to discuss next steps, and to schedule the date of your orchard groundbreaking.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions, and once again - Congratulations!

Marina Encinias
Edy’s Grand Ice Cream
Marketing
5929 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618

News Channel 34: Lives of Commitment Breakfast

12th Annual Lives of Commitment Breakfast on May 7th



Last Update: 5/05 1:32 pm

The 12th Annual Lives of Commitment Breakfast of the Faith in Action Volunteers program of the Broome County Council of Churchs is on Friday May 7th at the Ramada Binghamton.

Each year, the Lives of Commitment Breakfast is held to honor special volunteers in the community. Joan Eisch of Vestal and Cyndy Vosburgh of Neward Valley are being recognized for their volunteer activity with Faith in Action, while Katie Legg of Kirkwood, president of the Friendship Tree charity, is the community volunteer honoree.

Kathryn Grant Madigan, a partner in the law firm of Levene, Gouldid, & Thompson, will be the keynote speaker.

See Article Here

Press Connect: CHOW Win

CHOW wins a fruit orchard in contest

By Jennifer Micale •jmicale@gannett.com • May 5, 2010, 7:35 pm

CONKLIN -- Where flood waters once raged, an orchard of fruit trees and berry bushes will grow, providing food for the needy.

After a six-week Internet voting contest, the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse won a free fruit orchard from the Communities Take Root program, supported by Edy's Fruit Bars and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. With more than 95,400 votes, CHOW bested its closest competitor -- Bloomington, Indiana's Parks and Recreation Department.

That's OK, though; Bloomington also will receive a free orchard, although CHOW gets the bragging rights.

The orchard will be planted on about a half-acre of flood plain land in Conklin as part of the new CHOW farm. Conklin donated use of the land -- 7 acres in all -- that was flooded in 2006. The houses were leveled. Under the terms of federal buyouts; the land cannot be redeveloped with other buildings.

CHOW will receive 34 to 40 trees and maybe some berry bushes, said Deacon Edward Blaine, CHOW program director. It's too early to determine what kind of fruit trees will be planted or when it will be done. A foundation representative will visit the plot and make recommendations.

An orchard was in the plans anyway for the farm; winning the contest will allow CHOW to save on the cost of buying trees, he said. It will also provide an opportunity for people who need food aid to receive fresh produce, rather than the non-perishable items common to food pantries.

"We're going to get fresh food into the hands of people who come to our pantries," he said. "Part of our goal is to help them eat better."

CHOW provides food to 30 pantries in churches throughout Broome County, as well as supplying various ingredients for 35 soup kitchens and community dinners.

See Article Here

Press Connects: BU Philanthropy Incubator Awards

BU Philanthropy Incubator Awards $20,000

May 5, 2010, 6:59 am




The Binghamton University Philanthropy Incubator announced this year’s grant recipients. This year the Incubator has awarded over $20,000 to the following local nonprofit agencies:

Handicapped Children’s Association, $5,000; Family Enrichment Network, $5,500; Boys and Girls Club of Binghamton, $1,500; Center for Discovery in Harris, $1,500; Broome County YMCA, $2,500; Broome Council of Churches, $3,000; Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier, $1,000.

Agencies were selected for funding based upon student research and were expected to meet various qualifications for the grant. This semester, students worked to focus on key initiatives centered on the incubator’s mission, strategy, revenue generation and organizational structure.

— Debbie Swartz

http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20100505/VIEWPOINTS04/100505005/BU+Philanthropy+Incubator+Awards++20+000

Wheelchair Ramp receives a Grant from BU

Binghamton University Hands Out Incubator Grants

Originally printed at http://www.wbng.com/news/state/92794879.html

Vestal, NY (WBNG Binghamton ) Binghamton University students get a valuable lesson in giving back by helping to keep local non-profit organizations going.

Students at the college's Philanthropy Incubator gave out $20,000 in grants to the groups.

This year, the students focused on organizations dealing with the youth and the elderly in the community.

The winners awards ranged from $1,000 to $5,000.

Students did research to decide which groups got funding.

"It really teaches us how to give away money, how to be philanthropists and how to be a good non-profit manager, how to write grants. It's really complete service learning," said BU Student Ken Holmes.

This year's winners include the Handicapped Children's Association, Family Enrichment Network, Binghamton Boys and Girls Club, Broome County YMCA, Broome Council of Churches, Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier and Center for Discovery.

http://www.wbng.com/news/state/92794879.html

News Channel 34: CHOW #1

CHOW # 1 in Orchard Contest

The winners are posted this morning and Binghamton has prevailed. The CHOW farm along the Susquehanna in Conklin will receive the Orchard of fruit trees. By the time the voting was completed at the midnight deadline of April 30th, we had more than 95,499 votes.

Thank you for your support! The Orchard added to the CHOW farm will help insure that the thousands of people in need of food and served by some 30 pantries in our area, will have fresh supplies of healthy fruits and vegetables. You helped make this a reality. God bless!

http://www.newschannel34.com/content/developingnews/story/CHOW-1-in-Orchard-Contest/L9oKrdicw0qjggGQEQ6rew.cspx?rss=1868

WBNG: Congrats on the Orchard Win!

CHOW Wins Orchard Contest

Originally printed at http://www.wbng.com/news/local/92757579.html

Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) The winners are posted this morning and Binghamton has prevailed. The CHOW farm along the Susquehanna in Conklin will receive the Orchard of fruit trees.

By the time the voting was completed at the midnight deadline of April 30th, we had more than 95,499 votes.

Statement from Broome County Council of Churches :

Thank you for your support! The Orchard added to the CHOW farm will help insure that the thousands of people in need of food and served by some 30 pantries in our area, will have fresh supplies of healthy fruits and vegetables. You helped make this a reality.

http://www.wbng.com/news/local/92757579.html

YYN (Your News Now): Chili Championship

05/01/2010 07:47 PM

Chefs face off in NYS Chili Championship

By: Janelle Burrell

Some of the state's best chefs specializing in chili were in Vestal Saturday facing off in the annual Great New York State Chili Championship. From vegetarian chili, to turkey-based stews, there was plenty of variety for the judges to choose from. Our Janelle Burrell takes us to the competition.

VESTAL, N.Y. -- Some like it chunky!

"I've tried a bunch, and this is the most delicious chili," said Dawn Pint of Binghamton.

For others, a smoother, spicier variety is what it takes to hit the spot.

"What you're gonna get is what they call a second burn and it's gonna be in the stomach, but it's a good feeling," explained Wayne Clark, a chili aficionado.

Anyway you serve it, the competition at the annual Great New York State Chili Championship was heated.

"We got a little trash talking going on here today," said Bob 'Cheesehead Chili' Griffen. "Some folks gunning are for me."

Griffen has participated in all nine of the cook-offs.

"I haven't changed my recipe since 2003," he said. "Once you find a formula that works, you stick with it and, you win some hardware and you keep coming back again."

There were about 20 different vendors all vying for the championship bragging rights. That means about 20 different approaches to making chili.

We've saw some unique ingredients being used including cinnamon, corn and chocolate. But judges say when it comes to selecting the best, it all comes down to personal preference.

"I was looking for a chili that said, 'I want to eat this again,'" said Dan Dodge, one of the competition's judges, "Not something fancy, not something different, or weird."

"I like a more solid piece of meat and aroma and then some unique spices," added Joeleen Dodge, another judge.

With the roster of judges changing from year to year, even the veterans know it's anyone's game.

"Nobody's ever guaranteed a win," said Griffen. "There was a guy in a chili cook-off a few years back in '03, never cooked a bowl of chili in his life until two weeks before. He shows up on the day of and walks away NYS champ, so you never know."

Because when it comes to making chili, taste and preference are as varied as the ingredients in the pot.

The winner from the cook-off will be invited to compete in a national competition in November. All proceeds from Saturday's ticket sales are being donated to the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse.

View Video Here (Try and spot George and Ralph)

WBNG: Chili Cookoff

Chili Cook Off Supports CHOW

Originally printed at http://www.wbng.com/news/local/92591784.html

Vestal, NY (WBNG Bingahmton) - 

Local cooks put on their chef hats to help feed the hungry.

Saturday was the 9th annual Chili Cook Off at Binghamton University.

It's the championship competition for New York State.

Nearly 20 pots full of ground beef and hidden ingredients sizzled in the Events Center parking lot.

And hundreds indulged their taste buds.

All money raised goes to CHOW, or the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse.

"I think it's great. I mean, it supports the hunger outreach program here and it's a great thing. People love doing these things to support the hungry in our area," said Rose Blaine of Endicott.

Three cooks were chosen as winners.

They will compete later this year at the international competition in Texas.

See Video Here