Quote from Volunteer

"I've grown in unexpected places through my volunteering... my marriage has improved and so has the depth of my prayers.

 - Mr. Edmund Cancellieri, Jail Ministry Volunteer

Volunteers sought to plant orchard

Volunteers sought to plant orchard

August 9, 2010, 2:14 pm

Volunteers are needed to help plant 45 fruit trees that the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse won in a national Internet voting contest.

A celebration and planting event will kick off at 11 a.m. Aug. 22 and continue until 3 p.m., when a presentation on how to take care of fruit trees will begin. The trees are being planted at the CHOW Farm on Conklin’s River Boulevard. CHOW is leasing 7 acres of flood plain from the town; half an acre will be used for the orchard.

The contest was sponsored by the Communities Take Root program and supported by Edy’s Fruit Bars and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. Edy’s will provide fruit bars for everyone at the planting and the Broome County Council of Churches will provide lunch.

To volunteer, call the Council of Churches at 724-9130 or visit www.broomecouncil.net/volunteer.asp

.

— Jennifer Micale

http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20100809/NEWS01/100809026/Volunteers+sought+to+plant+orchard

Ramp It Up Video - News Channel 34

View the Ramp It Up / Hope Tent Video Here

Volunteers Still Needed to Plant Chow Fruit Tree Orchard

Up To The Minute News


Volunteers Still Needed to Plant Chow Fruit Tree Orchard



Last Update: 12:47 pm

From Broome County Council of Churches:



Volunteers are still needed to help plant 45 fruit trees won by CHOW of the Broome County Council of Churches in a national internet-voting contest.



The planting will take place on Sunday, Aug. 22, in Conklin at a celebration and planting event beginning at 11 a.m. Planting demonstrations will begin then, followed by actual planting until 3 p.m. when a fruit tree after-care demonstration will take place. This community event will be at the CHOW Farm on River Boulevard in Conklin, about two miles east of the Binghamton city line. (River Boulevard is off Conklin Road towards the Susquehanna River.)



“Just bring a pick or shovel, help with the planting, and celebrate with us with food and refreshments, and be part of the excitement,” said Deacon Edward Blaine, program director of the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) of the Council of Churches.



The prize of the fruit tree orchard is the result of CHOW winning a country-wide internet-voting contest last Spring sponsored by The Communities Take Root program, and supported by Edy’s Fruit Bars and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. Edy’s will provide fruit bars for everyone at the planting and the Council of Churches will provide lunch.



To volunteer, go to www.broomecouncil.net/volunteer.asp and fill out the volunteer form, or call the Council of Churches at 724-9130. When volunteers fill out the form, let the Council know if 1) you will bring your own tools, and 2) whether you will be staying for the workshop at 3 p.m.



The CHOW Farm and Orchard is on flood-plain land. The Town of Conklin leases seven acres of land to CHOW at a very minimal price. Half an acre will be used for the orchard tree planting.

http://www.newschannel34.com/content/developingnews/story/Volunteers-Still-Needed-to-Plant-Chow-Fruit-Tree/b2wgz8VOZ0yhRTOHdmn7Ig.cspx

Thank You to the American Legion Riders!

The American Legion Riders' 2nd Annual Poker Run to Stop Hunger raised 1,017 pounds of food for CHOW. 

 The motorcyclists travel from Legion to Legion, play poker and collect food for CHOW. 

Ramp It Up Donations Accepted at the Spiedie Fest

Donate to Ramp It Up at Spiedie Fest
(News Article in Press & Sun 8/5/10 - typed in by Susanne)

August 5, 2010

Broome County Council of Churches will accept donations of tools and cash at the Hope Tent during the Spiedie Fest for Ramp It Up.

Various tools, listed at www.broomecouncil.net/faith/asp , or cash can be donated at the Hope Tent during the festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Otseningo Park in Dickinson.

On weekends this summer, 100 youths and adults are building wheelchair ramps at no cost for residents at 15 homes in Broome County.  -William Moyer





— Kacey Deamer

Fundraiser for CHOW

Swim team to aid food pantries



August 4, 2010, 2:47 pm



The Union-Endicott girls swim team is challenging other local swim teams and swim enthusiasts to fill the shelves in local food pantries by participating in Swim Away Hunger from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Boys & Girls Club of Western Broome.

Instead of an entry fee, participants are asked to bring a food donation for the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse. There will be music and prizes.

“We want to beat our donation record for last year,” said Emma Zaremba, a UE senior and co-organizer of this event. “Last year, we raised 2,200 pounds of food and $1,100 for CHOW. We are asking other swim teams to join us, but this event is open to anyone who wants to swim.”


— Jennifer Micale
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100804022

MudCat Grant Golf Tournament

Black Aces Tournament
Last Update: 8/03 9:11 pm

All Star Golf Tournament



The All Stars Golf tournament is coming up next month. One of the charities it will benefit is CHOW.



The food pantry provider is a program of the Broome County Council of Churches. It's one of four groups that's getting funds this year. People and businesses can buy fairway signs for 100 dollars each with money going to support CHOW.



Program Director Ed Blaine says the group will use the money to buy food when donations don't keep up with demand. "Demand has gone up, and unfortunately our income has gone down a little bit. We need to kind of sprint a little bit and try to recover some of those funds before we get to the winter months when donations really drop off after the holidays and when demand goes up again."



If you'd like to support the Jim Mud Cat Grant All Stars tournament, contact Rick Shaw at 338-7410. Or if you'd like more information go to allstar-golf.com. Security Mutual is one of the main sponsors.

http://www.newschannel34.com/news/local/story/Black-Aces-Tournament/NBIdKXzmVUS05FElwzUA6g.cspx

Thank you to family who wishes for CHOW Donations in Mr. Shelton's Name

John P. Shelton

formerly of Johnson City

John P. "Jack" Shelton, 77, of Venice, FL, formerly of Johnson City died Friday, July 30, 2010 in Venice, FL. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Anne Spellicy Shelton, Venice, FL; a daughter and son-in-law, Margaret Mary and Michael Wohlrab, Sarasota, FL; his grandchildren, Elizabeth, Colleen and Patrick Wohlrab; a sister, Mary Shelton, Endicott. He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Venice, FL and a former member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Binghamton. Jack was a retired 35 year employee of the IBM Corporation; a U.S. Army veteran; member of the Knights of Columbus, Peter T. Campon Council #206 and a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and co-chairman of the St. Patrick's Day Parade for five years. He was active in the Democratic Party and was a Trustee on the Johnson City Village Board. He was a N.Y.S. Democratic Committee Person and worked actively for the Jimmy Carter election and attended President Carter's Inauguration.

A Funeral Mass will be offered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Binghamton Thursday at 10 a.m. Entombment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City. The family will receive friends at the J.A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main St., Binghamton, Wednesday from 3-6 p.m. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Jack may be made to CHOW, 3 Otsinengo St., Binghamton, NY 13903.

Published in Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin from August 3 to August 4, 2010

Wheelchair Ramp Donations

July 20, 2010, 2:02 pm

Donations sought for wheelchair ramp program




The Broome County Council of Churches is asking Spiedie Fest patrons to donate to the Ramp It Up 2010 program during the annual festival at Otsiningo Park on Aug. 5, 6 and 7.


Cash donations, new tools such as tape measures and cordless drills, and gift cards from local building supply companies are among the items the council needs to build home wheelchair ramps. These items can be brought to the Hope Tent at the festival.


The council wants to give wheelchair-bound homeowners easier access to their homes. They hope to build about 15 ramps this summer at no cost to the recipients.

Each ramp costs approximately $1,500 for materials and the construction is done completely by volunteers. Adult mentors work with youth groups on this project. Last year, 13 ramps were built and about 110 young people worked on the program.

— Kacey Deamer

http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100720016

Faith in Action Golf Tournament

July 16, 2010





Faith in Action golf tourney is Aug. 13


The ninth annual Faith in Action Volunteers Golf Classic & BBQ will be held at 1 p.m. Aug. 13 at Traditions at the Glen in Union.


The event, sponsored by Weis Markets and in shotgun captain and crew format, costs $100 per person before July 30 and $125 per person after that date. It includes a hole-in-one contest for a new car from Miller Auto. For more information, call 724-9130.

Volunteers for the Orchard Planting Day Needed

July 19, 2010






Volunteers needed to plant fruit trees




Volunteers are needed to plant 45 fruit trees at the Broome County Council of Churches’ farm on River Boulevard in Conklin.


Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse won the trees earlier this year in an Internet-based Communities Take Root contest sponsored by Edy’s Fruit Bars and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation.


CHOW will hold a tree-planting event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 22 on a half-acre tract of its seven-acre fresh food farm in Conklin. Go online to broomecouncil.net/volunteer.asp to register as a volunteer or call (607) 724-9130.

http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20100719/NEWS01/100719013/1112/Volunteers-needed-to-plant-fruit-trees

Volunteers needed for the CHOW Orchard Planting Day

Up To The Minute News


Help Plant the CHOW Fruit Tree Orchard


Last Update: 7/14 12:29 pm

From Broome County Council of Churches:
Now that CHOW (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse) of the Broome County Council of Churches has won an internet-voting contest for a free fruit tree orchard, it’s nearing time to do the actual planting of some 45 fruit trees.


This community event will take place on Sunday, August 22, at the CHOW Farm on River Boulevard in Conklin from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. River Boulevard is off Conklin Road towards the Susquehanna River.


“We need you, the community, to help us plant these trees and celebrate with us at the same time,” said Deacon Edward Blaine, CHOW program director. “Bring your pick or shovel, dig and plant, hand out refreshments, eat with us, learn about orchards and be a part of the excitement.”


The prize of a free orchard came about through an internet-voting contest last Spring and is sponsored by The Communities Take Root program, and supported by Edy’s Fruit Bars and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. Edy’s will provide fruit bars to everyone and the Council of Churches will provide lunch.


The program on August 22 consists of the following:

--11 to 11:45 a.m., introductions and planting demonstrations

--11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., break into groups to plant the orchard (bring your pick or shovel; otherwise the Council will have a limited supply of tools)

--3 to 4 p.m., workshop on fruit tree after care, if enough volunteers sign up for this session.


When volunteers fill out the Volunteer Form, let the Council know if 1) you will bring your own tools, and 2) whether you will be staying for the workshop at 3 p.m.

To volunteer, go to www.broomecouncil.net/volunteer.asp and fill out the Volunteer Form. Or you can volunteer by calling the Council of Churches at 724-9130 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (2 p.m. on Friday).

“You helped us win this orchard with all your votes,” said Deacon Blaine. “Now you can help us plant it enabling us to provide even more healthy food for the hungry.”

The CHOW Farm and Orchard is on flood-plain land; the Town of Conklin is leasing seven acres of land to CHOW at a very minimal price. Half an acre will be used for the orchard tree planting.

See Article Here

Ed Blaine's Letter to the Editor

July 12, 2010
Vetoes hit hungry in Broome

The very late state budget and the vetoing of member items have put the burden and cost of the lack of real leadership in Albany on the backs of our schools and nonprofits. The lateness of the state budget in Albany and the vetoes of the member items have affected the Broome County Council of Churches CHOW (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse) Program in a couple of ways.

The member item that was vetoed by Gov. Paterson designated for the Broome County Council of Churches, $7,500, was earmarked for the purchase of wholesale food for the CHOW Program's food pantries. With the demand for emergency food increasing by over 20 percent each of the last three years, it has been a challenge to keep our pantries stocked.

The CHOW Program has received this member item grant for the last few years and included the amount in our budget for 2010. We will need to find a way to replace these funds in an increasingly difficult economic environment or cut back on the amount of food we give to the families who come to us. (The $7,500 member item designated to Catholic Charities is also for the purchase of food for their pantry.)

Thus, with the need for emergency food increasing in Broome County, the two largest emergency food programs are being cut by $15,000. This will be difficult to replace, as individual donations are less than last year at this time. The people of our area are not less generous, just less able to be of assistance to the programs that assist their neighbors.

The tardiness of the budget has caused other difficulties with our CHOW Program. CHOW receives funds from a grant from the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program of the state Health Department. This money helps offset the cost of our food recovery program, Broome Bounty. Broome Bounty recovered approximately 1 million pounds of food in 2009 that would have ended up wasted. This money is spent first and reimbursed by the state each month.

Since the budget deadline passes, no money has come from this grant to The Council of Churches. Thus, money that has already been spent has not been reimbursed as promised. This amounts to over $10,000 that The Council of Churches has spent in food recovery that has not been reimbursed as promised. When and if it will be reimbursed, we don't know.

The nonprofits in our area that are being shortchanged in the budget by Paterson's vetoes all operate on a pay-as-you-go basis that has very little, or nothing at all, left over at the end of the year. We cannot sustain the loss of revenue by these vetoes, and we cannot continue spending money that is contractually promised to us without being reimbursed. The local nonprofits, and nonprofits throughout the state, are paying dearly for the lack of true leadership in Albany and a broken system that serves as our state government.

http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20107120308

Letter to the Editor: Thanks for wheelchair ramp

July 10, 2010
Thanks for wheelchair ramp


Twentysome years ago, my sister Cindy's husband, Ben Harendza, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. At the time, Ben was in his early 30s, working at the Wyoming Youth Center, coaching youth wrestling and had become a state-certified wrestling referee. He also was raising his two young sons.
While this news was absolutely devastating to Ben and our families, Ben has never let his incurable disease define him and his outlook on life. He continued work and remained involved in youth and high school wrestling for many years. But Ben's Parkinson's has continued to progress to the point that he now requires the assistance of a wheelchair.
On a recent weekend through its Summer Volunteer Project, the Broome County Council of Churches, Inc. and St. Mark's Episcopal Church constructed an exterior wheelchair ramp at the Harendzas' home in Johnson City.
Our families are grateful to both of these wonderful organizations for constructing this ramp.
Tricia Leonard
Yuba City, Calif.

http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20107100302