Editorial Submitted to the Paper

It seems that non-profits have been in the news a lot recently.
Normally, and I say this with some experience as the director of a non-
profit, these organizations have to push and prod to get noticed by
political aspirants. But as the Binghamton mayoral race draws to a
conclusion, it seems that two of our mayoral candidates cannot seem to
say enough about how non-profits are an untapped revenue source for
municipalities. One candidate goes so far as to say that he will
shame non-profits into paying taxes or a fee to government for use of
government services. Not wanting to speak on behalf of all non-
profits, or even on behalf of my organization, I offer the following
as a response of a taxpayer and a citizen of Binghamton.
Many of the charities in the City of Binghamton perform mandated
services on contract with county and state governments. The reason
these municipalities contract with faith based charities and secular
not-for-profits is that these organizations can perform the same
services with better outcomes at a fraction of the cost of state run
programs. The question that this raises is should non-profits that are
performing these mandated programs on behalf of the government be
taxed for providing the tax saving programs that they are contracted
to perform? In short, should organizations funded by larger government
entities to perform necessary services that they would have to perform
pay for City resources on a local level? Isn't this a case of robbing
Peter (the state) to pay Paul (the City) and how does this really save
taxpayers money in the long term?
The examples of this are far too numerous to fit into a short
editorial. Catholic Charities and the Children's Home of the Wyoming
Conference save the county millions of dollars in organizing foster
care and housing at risk children. My organization works
cooperatively with the Sheriff's office in assisting prisoners leaving
the jail in developing a discharge plan and performing pastoral care
ministry at a fraction of what it would cost the county to perform a
similar state mandated program. This does not even begin to scratch
the surface of the services that Fairview Recovery Services, The YMCA
and The YWCA and the many other human resources and medical non-
profits perform in our community.
Nor do the candidates account for the non-profits that help bring us
art, books, music, plays, and opera. These non-profits add depth and
beauty to our community, but they also are economic generators. We
should not forget that Speedie Fest, the Tri-Cities Opera, The Arts
Council, First Night, WSKG, just to mention a few, raise additional
tax revenue for our local municipalities and income for businesses in
the area. Where would our community be without them?
While it is convenient and easy for candidates to propose that this
tax, let us just call it what it is, covers what it costs the city to
house non-profits, it is an entirely different proposition to say what
it would cost the city if non-profits did not exist or from where the
funds for the non-profits work comes. I think that instead of taxing
or shaming non-profits into paying a fee for city services, candidates
should instead see the many ways that non-profits save municipalities
money, help raise revenue, and influence the quality of life for all
citizens.
Rev. Dr. Joseph Sellepack

Wheelchair Ramp Letter and Donation

Today we received a lovely card and donation from a gentleman who had a ramp built by the Council.  Here is some of it below:

To the Broome County Council of Churches-

Thank you for building my ramp.  Now after over two years, I can get out without help.

My donation will help the next person that needs one.

Thank you,

ps - Greg Jenkins did a fine job overseeing the work and so did the Volunteers for the Lions Club.

Facebook Entry for the Jail Ministry

Broome County Council of Churches Jail Ministry Program The Windsor Bible Baptist Church just joined our reentry project by opening up a new Celebrate Recovery Group which will start the first week of Dec!

IBM CHOW Donation on NewsChannel34

IBM CHOW Drive

Last Update: 10/23 9:33 pm

IBM has just completed its 5th annual food collection drive.
Employees of Big Blue collected 6 tons of food which have been donated to to the CHOW pantry.
George Madl, with IBM loves the commitment his employees have made.

George Madl says, "we have some wonderful employees here that it doesn't take the leadership team here to do a sales job or do a marketing campaign. They just take off and do some wonderful things. The idea of giving is part of the IBM-ers DNA."

IBM also raised more than 300-thirty-one thousand dollars for other non-profit agencies too through its Employee Charitable Contribution Campaign.

To view the video (with some nice shots of Ralph and some of our workers out back):  http://www.newschannel34.com/news/local/story/IBM-CHOW-Drive/7y88aWt-WUW-_kym950qlA.cspx?rss=120

Letter from Hillel at Binghamton 10-23-09

CHOW
3 Otseningo Street
Binghamton, NY 13903
Deacon Edward M Blaine



Dear Deacon Blaine,

We are writing to you as the leaders of the Challah for Hunger chapter at Binghamton University.Challah for Hunger (CfH) is a non-profit organization with chapters around the country.The chapters bake and sell challah bread on their college campuses, then donate their profits to a local and international charity.As part of the organization's mission, half of our proceeds will be donated to the American Jewish World Service Sudan Relief and Advocacy Fund.We have decided to donate the other half of our proceeds to CHOW.

Challah for Hunger is a project of students through Hillel at Binghamton. Hillel at Binghamton is an organization that provides quality programming, leadership opportunities and professional support to the Binghamton University community.Hillel at Binghamton strives to foster Jewish education and awareness, strengthen community and identity as uniquely Jewish and universally human, and promote the values of pluralism,tikkun olam(healing the world), Israel, and Jewish Peoplehood.

We have seen that our campus community cares about the work that CHOW does. We hope the kindness of our volunteers, customers, and supporters can be passed on to your clients and beneficaries through our donation. We hope it will help to further your cause and we look forward to continuing our support.

Challah for Hunger at Binghamton intends to continue giving to CHOW two times per year(representing each semester). For future inquiries, please contact us through Hillel or Shana Teig Kantor, Executive Director of Hillel at Binghamton.




Sincerely,


Alexandra Kassimir and Lauren Rothschild
Coordinators Binghamton Challah for Hunger

Facebook Entry about the Reentry Program

Broome County Council of Churches Jail Ministry Program The Jail Ministry Program reentry project is a member of the Broome County Reentry Task Force. For more information on this initiative please visit the link below.

Offender Re-Entry

http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/crimnet/ojsa/initaitives/tpci_crtf.htm

Relationships

Read this today and want to offer it as a thought for today: "In organizations, real power and energy is generated through relationships. The patterns of relationships and the capacities to form them are more important than tasks, functions, roles, and positions." ~ Margaret Wheatly

If this is true, and I believe it is, the question is not whether you have the title commensurate with the role you're playing, rather it is found in the quality of the relationships you are able to develop with those closest to you. I believe Margaret Wheatly is onto something.

Though I would add that often we overfunction to compensate for those who take little responsibility for themselves or underfunction and heap responsibility onto a few. It's always better to treat relationships as sacred, but to do so somewhat circumspectly since some exist to use other's generostiy.

The advise then is in relationships to be as wise as serpants and innocent as doves....

CHOW Event in pressconnects.com

October 18, 2009

Holiday Shopping and CHOW Donation Event
Meg Hayes & Heather Gaughan

Reader Submitted

Holiday Shopping and CHOW Donation Event is being held on November 21, 2009 from 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Owego Treadway Inn. This is a FREE Admission Event and we are encouraging people to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to CHOW. CHOW is a Broome County Council of Churches Program that is always looking for donations, but this year especially seems to be a difficult year. With all the layoffs and the economic crisis, many families are facing difficult financial decisions. We encourage those who can to give back and donate to this wonderful organization as well as support these local businesses, At Home America, Avon, BabyCrazy, Celebrating Home, Creative Memories, Homemade Gourmet, Essential Bodywear, Longenberger, Madison Handbags, MaryKay, Pampered Chef, Party Lite, Pet Lane, Signature HomeStyle, Silpada, Stampin Up, Tastefully Simple, Tupperware, Vantel Pearls, The Clay Ground, Candy Faces, Spinawebb and Crafters. Whether your shopping for yourself, to give as a gift or donate to your favorite charity or organization, this event is perfect for supporting CHOW and local businesses. Please come out on Saturday, November 21, 2009 from 12:00p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and show your support!

Broome County Council of Churches Jail Ministry Program

If you missed the first one, The Sheriff's Office, State Police and the Broome County Council of Churches Jail Ministry Program are again hosting a Homeland Security program entitled: "Operation Safeguard" on Monday 12/7 at 10:00 AM a......t the Council Offices at 3 Otseningo St, Binghamton, NY. The program is to assit congregational leaders and clergy recognize and thwart potential violence in light of a number of recent violent episodes during religious services. Please e-mail Rev. Cris Mogenson at bcjchaplain@juno.com for RSVP or to request more information  Read More:

Counter terrorism Zone 6 New york state Homeland Security

Source: ctz6.org

New York State Terrorsim Tips Hotline 1-(866) SAFE NYS (1-866-723-3697) All calls are toll free and will remain strictly confidential FBI Tips and Public Leads

Facebook Jail Min Post

Broome County Council of Churches Jail Ministry Program The entire chaplaincy staff at the Broome County Jail are all memebers of the American Correctional Chaplains Association. Here is a good article they have posted about Multi-Faith Corrections chaplaincy

http://www.correctionalchaplains.org/Garys%20Article/Rogers.pdf

 

Facebook post announcing the CHOW Walk

The Broome County Council of Churches CHOW Walk for Hunger on Sunday!! Be there for food, fun, entertainment, and a great 2.5 mile walk, all to raise $$$ and awareness for hunger in Broome County.

Twitter post announcing the CHOW Walk

BCCouncil CHOW Walk for Hunger Sunday afternoon. Food, Fun, Exercise, Music. Registration at 1:00, Walk starts at 2:00.

Donation from the Johnny Hart Memorial Breakfast

Today the secretary for the Johnny Hart Memorial Breakfast brought donations to the Council from the proceeds from the breakfast.  All money earned goes directly to the community.

$500 to CHOW
$100 to the General Fund for using our facilities the months proceeding the breakfast.
$100 Ramp It Up 2009

Very nice!

Pipedream Article mentioning CHOW

Handbaked challah sold for humanitarian effort


Originally Published 2009-10-16
By Robert Bellon
The Sodexo bakery, a bedraggled brick building in the parking lot of Physical Facilities, is oft-forgotten (if known at all). But inside is a bright bustling kitchen, where a small but industrious group of students meet twice a week to contribute to a common mission: make challah and make a difference.
Lauren Rothschild and Alexandra Kassimir oversee the operations of Binghamton University’s chapter of Challah for Hunger, a national non-profit organization that raises money for charitable causes in communities throughout the country and across the globe.
Rothschild, a senior human development major, and Kassimir, a junior psychobiology major, were involved in the group when it was first organized in the spring of this year.
“We just started on campus last semester,” Rothschild said. In their first semester of operation, they raised $2,000. They donated half their earnings to Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) and half to the American Jewish World Services Sudan Relief and Advocacy Fund.
Now, the group sells their handmade challah on Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. from their table outside of the food court in the New University Union. But when hungry shoppers look into the plastic bags full of hand-kneaded bread, the product they see is only the quiet culmination of the work of dozens of volunteers.
“Probably the hardest part of starting was finding a place to bake the challah,” Rothschild said. She, Kassimir and others worked last semester with the founders of the Binghamton chapter —who have since graduated — and representatives of the national Challah for Hunger to establish a brand new baking operation.
Ultimately, they found their home in their very own corner of the Sodexo bakery. Sodexo provides the group with a place to bake the bread and all the necessary equipment, including two ovens for their exclusive use.
“The ovens are only ours to use,” said Rothschild — and they need to be.
“Everything we do is strictly kosher,” said junior accounting major Matt Block, the chapter’s accounts manager. A mashgiach, a supervisor of a kosher establishment, certifies that the challah is kosher, and keeping the ovens for challah only is a way of making that process easier.
The process begins in the Sodexo bakery. The dough is mixed in a hefty industrial mixer that looks more like a giant drill press than a baking instrument, and the dough churns in an elephantine metal bowl.
When the mixing is done, the volunteers heave the bowl onto the table and reach into the bowl for the dough. They then weigh, portion and knead the dough before braiding it by hand into loaves.
The loaves are left to rise in a walk-in refrigerator overnight. The next day, it is baked in the morning, packaged, and promptly brought to the New University Union. That way, Block said, the bread is baked the day of its sale.
Last week, the group baked about 60 loaves, and all were sold. Some weeks the students make 100 loaves and sell out in an hour, according to Arielle Kahn, a sophomore psychology major and the group’s sales manager.
The group makes and sells plain and chocolate chip challah, and this week they introduced a new whole wheat variety. They are also exploring more unconventional styles of bread, including blueberry, sun-dried tomato and chai.

Rothschild is thankful to Sodexo for letting the group use their facilities and equipment. “They just donated to us,” she said. “We order all our supplies and ingredients from them.”
She also commends the volunteers.
“We have a great volunteer group,” Rothschild said. The volunteers are so willing to do work, and so many sign up for shifts that “sometimes we have to just turn them away.”
“We find that it’s kind of cathartic for a lot of people,” Rothschild said. Not only does this apply to the volunteers, but also the homeless, hungry and disaster-stricken people in Binghamton and around the world who receive their donations.
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Binghamton University Pipe Dream © 2009, All Rights Reserved.

News10Now covering the Backpack Program

For video and a short article, here is the link:

http://news10now.com/southern-tier-news-1115-content/top_stories/485101/volunteers-help-curb-hunger