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Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern

Ministry of Concern looking for used furniture donations

By Press Release

Press release:

Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern is in great need of gently used furniture donations to be redistributed to those in true need. We pick up and deliver beds and bedding, couches, chairs, tables and electric appliances. We do not distribute incidentals such as wall hangings, TV’s, etc.

Pickup of your no longer needed furniture can be arranged by calling the Ministry’s Furniture Coordinator, Michele, at (585) 589-9210.

 

Bob Harker named director of Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern

By Press Release

Press release:

Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern announced today the appointment of Robert (Bob) Harker of Clarendon as the agency’s new Executive Director. Bob brings with him the skills the Board of Directors believes will promote agency growth, and expand services, allowing it to be of even greater service to people in need in the Genesee / Orleans County areas.

“I could not be more excited about the opportunity to help guide and grow Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern in its role as the “agency of last resort”. We strive to provide services to individuals and families that for one reason or another are not being served by more conventional community assets. ”

Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern was formed in the 1950s, serving immigrants that settled in the area. In 1968 the Ministry was incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and began serving the poor and working poor that are facing hardship or crisis. Donations are tax-deductible.

Donations, volunteers, and ideas are always welcome. Bob can be reached at (585) 589-9210.

https://ministryofconcern.org/
121 North Main St. Suite 311
Albion, NY 14411

Free financial literacy program for young people offered in July, sign up now

By Press Release

Press release:

There's an innovative new Financial Literacy program through the Ministry of Concern, open to residents of Orleans or Genesee County, for ages 12 and up.

The youth investment program will focus on everything from investing money and saving for the future to interviewing skills, how to get and keep a job, life insurance, budgeting and your credit score. 

This is an exciting opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young people. We believe that this pilot project will help us pass on the key concepts of how money can work for you and be used to achieve personal goals as well as foster an entrepreneurial spirit in the next generation.

We are hopeful to have the classes started by mid-July so apply today.

Spots are limited. Ayesha Kreutz is the facilitator.

Phone is (585) 589-9210;  email:   orleansadvocateministryofconcern.org

WNY COVID-19 Community Fund announces $4.5M in grants to 74 groups

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Western New York COVID-19 Community Response Fund coordinated by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, The John R. Oishei Foundation and the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County announced that it has granted $4.5 Million to 74 organizations in less than two weeks after the Fund was announced.

Grants were awarded to organizations serving all eight counties of Western New York that are addressing immediate needs in our community as a result of the COVID-19 crisis in the areas of food, housing, healthcare, childcare, mental health, transportation, and other emergency services.

Grants were made to nonprofit organizations throughout WNY including urban and rural areas, organizations of every size, and to those serving a range of populations with consideration for areas already in economic distress. 

The WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund is a collaborative effort among the region’s philanthropic organizations to help essential organizations on the front lines of this community crisis with grants designed to complement public sector funds.

Anyone is welcome to join the effort and donate to the Fund through the website – www.WNYResponds.org.

The following nonprofit organizations received a grant from the WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund:

• Allegany County Community Opportunities and Rural Development

• Arc of Genesee Orleans (Meals on Wheels)

• BestSelf Behavioral Health

• Boys & Girls Clubs Collaborative

• Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network

• Buffalo Urban League

• CAO of Western New York

• Cattaraugus and Wyoming Counties Project Head Start

• Cattaraugus Community Action

• Cattaraugus County Dept. of Aging (Meals on Wheels Fund)

• Cazenovia Recovery Systems

• CCNY

• Child & Family Services of Erie County

• Child Care Coalition of the Niagara Frontier

• Christ Church Community Kitchen

• City Mission Society, Inc.

• Community Action of Orleans & Genesee

• Community Health Center of Buffalo

• Community Missions of Niagara Frontier

• CoNECT (Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo)

• Crisis Services

• Cuba Cultural Center

• Directions in Independent Living

• Empower (United Cerebral Palsy Assoc. of Niagara County)

• Erie Regional Housing Develop. (Belle Center)

• Evergreen Health

• Every Bottom Covered

• Family Help Center

• Feed Buffalo

• FeedMore WNY

• Friends of Night People

• Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern Inc. 

• Harvest House of South Buffalo

• Health Association of Niagara County (HANCI)

• Healthy Community Alliance

• Heart Love & Soul

• Hearts and Hands: Faith in Action Inc.

• Horizon Health Services

• Jericho Road Community Health Center

• Jewish Family Service of Buffalo & Erie County

• Journey's End Refugee Services

• Kendall Community Food Cupboard Corp.

• Learning Disabilities Association of WNY

• Life Impact (Resurrection Life Food Pantry)

• Lt. Col. Matt Urban HSC of WNY

• Metro Community Develop. Corp.

• Mid-Erie Mental Health Services (Endeavor Health Services)

• Native American Community Services 

• Neighborhood Health Center 

• Niagara Community Action Program Inc.

• Northpointe Council

• NYS Network for Youth Success

• Olmsted Center for Sight

• Open Buffalo (Seeding Resilience Initiative)

• Parkside Evangelical Lutheran Church

• PUSH Buffalo

• Restoration Society

• Safety-Net Assoc. of Primary Care Affiliated Providers

• Save the Michaels of the World

• Say Yes Buffalo 

• Spectrum Health and Human Services

• Western New York Independent Living

To date, the WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund has received approximately $5.5 million from local foundations, private sector companies, and individuals. Additional funds raised will be distributed based on evolving needs related to the pandemic. To see a full list of contributors to the Fund, please visit www.WNYResponds.org.

On Monday (April 6) Buffalo Bills General Manager Brandon Beane announced that he is donating $20,000 to relief efforts and is also offering fans an opportunity to interact with him as he gears up for the 2020 NFL Draft to build awareness for the Fund.

The initiative, which runs until Friday, April 17, will award seven randomly selected entrants with one of seven unique Bills-themed experiences or prizes.

For anyone in need of assistance with information related to services available in our community, please call 2-1-1. It is a referral hotline that is staffed 24/7 and serves all eight counties of Western New York.

Ministry of Concern to hold first gala May 18 with old school Vegas-style entertainer

By Virginia Kropf
The committee planning a gala to benefit GOMOC. From left are Mary Grace DeMarse, Pat Morrisey, Sister Dolores Dowd, Executive Director Nyla Gaylord and volunteer Kelly Murray. Photo by Virginia Kropf.

 

The Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern (GOMOC) is planning its first ever gala May 18 in an effort to cultivate new donors, spread awareness of the ministry and raise $25,000 to benefit its mission.

An anonymous donor has paid for Las Vegas-style entertainer Jimmy Mazz, who will provide an evening of music, impressions and comedy. Mazz is known for his clean humor, Frank Sinatra-style entertainment and engaging with his audience.

“Legends and Laughter” will take place at the Quality Inn and Suites at 8250 Park Road in Batavia. Included in the evening will be an elegant buffet dinner, silent auction, door prizes and basket raffle.

“If people have a really good time, they will remember you,” said Nyla Gaylord, executive director of GOMOC. “We are thrilled to have this anonymous couple who believe we do good work and wanted to help. They know Jimmy Mazz and wanted to sponsor him.”

The GOMOC was founded more than 50 years ago as a migrant ministry in Orleans County. Sister Marian Adrian was one of the first directors of the organization when they had an office in Batavia, and became passionate about its work.

It soon became known as the “Agency of Last Resort,” and during the years has helped hundreds of individuals in Genesee and Orleans counties who are down and out.

They now run operations from 121 N. Main St., Albion.

The committee planning the gala includes: Gaylord; Sister Dolores Dowd, who, like Sister Marian is a Grey Nun*; Mary Grace DeMarse, of Batavia, a member of GOMOC’s board; volunteer solicitor Kelly Murray, of Albion; Pat Morrisey, of Albion, who worked with Sister Marian 50 years ago; Judy Boyle, of Oakfield; and Amy Monti, of Middleport.

DeMarse said they plan to make the gala an annual fundraising event.

Several great prizes have already been donated for the silent auction, including a half-day fishing trip and hand-carved hunting knife.

Anyone wishing to donate a basket may call 589-9210 or 343-5452 and DeMarse will pick them up.

Tickets for the gala are $40 each or $300 for a table of eight. They are available at GOMOC’s office at 121 North Main St., Albion; Max Pies Furniture, 400 S. Jackson St., Batavia; and Catholic Charities, 5 Liberty St., Batavia.

(*The Grey Nuns is the name commonly given to six distinct Roman Catholic religious communities of women, which trace their origins to the original foundation, of the Sisters of Charity of the Hôpital Général, in Montréal, Canada. The foundation was founded in 1737 by Saint Marguerite d'Youville, a young widow.)

Donations help families get a warm bed to sleep in

By Philip Anselmo

From the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern:

The Batavia Days Inn donated over 100 beds to the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern furniture program.  This generous donation helped GOMOC to almost exhaust an 8 page waiting list of people in need of beds in our community.  This holiday season, many children and families will now have warm beds to sleep in.

The GOMOC Furniture Program collects furniture donations from the commuity and distributes them to those in need.  The service is free to both the community members donating and those in need.  We accept beds, dressers, couches and chairs, kitchen tables, and working appliance. To make a donation, simply call our agency and schedule a pick-up.

The Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern would like to thank the Batavia Days Inn and all the other generous community members who have donated to our furniture program.

Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern receives generous donation from Byron-Bergen Central School District

By Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern

Casual Fridays or dress-down days are observed by businesses and organizations throughout the nation. At Byron-Bergen Central School they are a weekly event that has raised thousands of dollars for local organizations and charitable causes. Each fall the Byron-Bergen Faculty Association democratically designates a recipient to present the donations to that were collected through the school year. Through the generous donations of less than 120 members during the 2007-2008 school year, BBFA was able to collect $1600 to present to this years recipient, The Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern. 

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