Update: Highs, Lows & How Community Helped Us Persevered
Suzanne Collins
Director
I wanted to post a little something on the social media but thought it would get lengthy and cumbersome and people would not read it. If you linked to this you’re interested and a willing ramble reader and I appreciate that.
I hate COVID as I am sure we all do. My mom always said that hate is a very strong word and maybe I could use something else, but I can’t think of a better word for COVID. We have lost so much with it, time family, friends, trust, confidence, relationships. It’s hard to look back and remember 2020, I can’t be alone in remembering where I was right about the time when I heard that word, and how quickly things changed from that moment.
Here is a brief summary of how we worked at the food cupboard through 2020. Highs and lows for sure, I’ll start with the lows.
We lost two of our most treasured volunteers in 2020. The food cupboard will never be the same place I walked into all those years ago with the two gentlemen always there to support me. They were my biggest cheerleaders and the food cupboards biggest supporters. One with a baseball cap year round, Yankees fan through and through, soft spoken, and remembered everyone’s name. The other a staunch Colgate supporter and alum, loved to talk Colgate with the student volunteers and could literally have a conversation with anyone. They made a great team.
I will never be able to replace that relationship but the memories will always be there.
The winter months of 2020 was a eerie time, people were afraid to come out, we were pre packing boxes ahead for folks and having them pick up at the doorway. We reinvented our distribution methods several times to accommodate the needs and guidelines. We started delivering. We would pack boxes and leave them for people at their doorway. We wore gloves, masks, and any deliveries were left untouched for a few days, and we bought an air purifier. The hardest part was when I had to tell our patrons what happened to the two volunteers. It was heart breaking and also wonderful to see how they had touched the patron’s lives in more ways than I knew.
The Highs
We made it and hopefully we are better because of it. We had so much support, so many donations and so many people willing to step outside the comfort zone to help unload a delivery truck, deliver food, and help in any way. We supported each other. Businesses supported businesses. We found that if we call and check in on our neighbors and friends to be sure they are doing alright they appreciate it.
We value the relationships we once may have taken for granted, I truly missed having people come into the food cupboard, how often they would sit for a minute and just talk. We need that connection and this was a hard reminder. We never closed, we persevered! We could never, never have done it without the support of the community near and far. Looking ahead we will continue to distribute summer lunch items, we will offer school supplies again and we will all be alright.
I cannot begin to thank this community enough, It would not be possible to list every organization or individual who has helped us but please know we are sincerely grateful.
Director
I wanted to post a little something on the social media but thought it would get lengthy and cumbersome and people would not read it. If you linked to this you’re interested and a willing ramble reader and I appreciate that.
I hate COVID as I am sure we all do. My mom always said that hate is a very strong word and maybe I could use something else, but I can’t think of a better word for COVID. We have lost so much with it, time family, friends, trust, confidence, relationships. It’s hard to look back and remember 2020, I can’t be alone in remembering where I was right about the time when I heard that word, and how quickly things changed from that moment.
Here is a brief summary of how we worked at the food cupboard through 2020. Highs and lows for sure, I’ll start with the lows.
We lost two of our most treasured volunteers in 2020. The food cupboard will never be the same place I walked into all those years ago with the two gentlemen always there to support me. They were my biggest cheerleaders and the food cupboards biggest supporters. One with a baseball cap year round, Yankees fan through and through, soft spoken, and remembered everyone’s name. The other a staunch Colgate supporter and alum, loved to talk Colgate with the student volunteers and could literally have a conversation with anyone. They made a great team.
I will never be able to replace that relationship but the memories will always be there.
The winter months of 2020 was a eerie time, people were afraid to come out, we were pre packing boxes ahead for folks and having them pick up at the doorway. We reinvented our distribution methods several times to accommodate the needs and guidelines. We started delivering. We would pack boxes and leave them for people at their doorway. We wore gloves, masks, and any deliveries were left untouched for a few days, and we bought an air purifier. The hardest part was when I had to tell our patrons what happened to the two volunteers. It was heart breaking and also wonderful to see how they had touched the patron’s lives in more ways than I knew.
The Highs
We made it and hopefully we are better because of it. We had so much support, so many donations and so many people willing to step outside the comfort zone to help unload a delivery truck, deliver food, and help in any way. We supported each other. Businesses supported businesses. We found that if we call and check in on our neighbors and friends to be sure they are doing alright they appreciate it.
We value the relationships we once may have taken for granted, I truly missed having people come into the food cupboard, how often they would sit for a minute and just talk. We need that connection and this was a hard reminder. We never closed, we persevered! We could never, never have done it without the support of the community near and far. Looking ahead we will continue to distribute summer lunch items, we will offer school supplies again and we will all be alright.
I cannot begin to thank this community enough, It would not be possible to list every organization or individual who has helped us but please know we are sincerely grateful.
Community contributes to Diaper Drive
A sincere thank you to It Takes a Village Diaper Bank for organizing the diaper drive for the Food Cupboard. Hamilton and Colgate community did an amazing job donating thousands of diapers. Park United Methodist church wrapped the diapers and will store them for the Food Cupboard.
If you or someone you know is in need please call or stop by the food cupboard.
If you or someone you know is in need please call or stop by the food cupboard.
Mini Pantry at Madison Lane
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The Food Cupboard maintains a mini-pantry at Madison Lane.
It's located in Building II. The mini-pantry was made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation of Central New York. We sincerely thank them for believing in our vision. |
Challenge means milk for those in need
The Hamilton Food Pantry was the lucky recipient of a recent challenge.
Liz Crofut from WIC was recently challenged by Antara Mitra, executive director of the Community Action Partnership of Madison County, to buy 10 gallons of milk and donate them to a local food pantry. She generously donated the milk to our food cupboard.
The challenge was started by Greg Olsen from the Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc. to provide much-needed fresh milk to local families that need it as well as to support dairy farmers in the state.
Liz Crofut from WIC was recently challenged by Antara Mitra, executive director of the Community Action Partnership of Madison County, to buy 10 gallons of milk and donate them to a local food pantry. She generously donated the milk to our food cupboard.
The challenge was started by Greg Olsen from the Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc. to provide much-needed fresh milk to local families that need it as well as to support dairy farmers in the state.
Hamilton Central Teachers Aid Summer Food Program
The Hamilton Teachers Association (HTA) recently donated $500 to the Hamilton Food Cupboard's program to feed families now that school is out.((break))
The HTA is the teachers union at HCS. President Harry Jarcho (left) and Treasurer Gina Torre (right) delivered the funds.
Food Cupboard Director Suzanne Collins said her organization serves about 40 families with its summer program. The Food Cupboard also provides food for a summer feeding program in Madison.
Collins said she tries to provide suitable breakfast and and lunch items for families in the summer. She said items she could use include:
The HTA is the teachers union at HCS. President Harry Jarcho (left) and Treasurer Gina Torre (right) delivered the funds.
Food Cupboard Director Suzanne Collins said her organization serves about 40 families with its summer program. The Food Cupboard also provides food for a summer feeding program in Madison.
Collins said she tries to provide suitable breakfast and and lunch items for families in the summer. She said items she could use include:
- Cans or packets of tuna
- Mayonnaise
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Crackers
- Healthy cereal
- Pancake mixes and syrup
Students Give Food Cupboard a Lift
Just before Thanksgiving break, HCS students raised money to benefit a community institution that aids those in need.
Members of Kathy Roy's accounting class held a cookie sale at the Knight's Nook, the school's student-run store. They raised $140, which they donated to the Hamilton Food Cupboard.
Meghan Holcomb (left) and Ashlee Prentice (right) presented the money to Food Cupboard Director Suzanne Collins on Saturday afternoon.
Members of Kathy Roy's accounting class held a cookie sale at the Knight's Nook, the school's student-run store. They raised $140, which they donated to the Hamilton Food Cupboard.
Meghan Holcomb (left) and Ashlee Prentice (right) presented the money to Food Cupboard Director Suzanne Collins on Saturday afternoon.
Youth Group Aids Food Cupboard
Several youth of the First Baptist Church and Rev. Wes Smith delivered "birthday bags" prepared by the church Youth Group to the Hamilton Food Cupboard, recently.
Food cupboard Director Suzanne Collins accepted the bags from Skyler Fukazawa, Brandon Gotham, Aiden Woods and Greg Palmer
Food cupboard Director Suzanne Collins accepted the bags from Skyler Fukazawa, Brandon Gotham, Aiden Woods and Greg Palmer
Concerts at Opera House Combat Hunger, Aid Food Cupboards
The Earlville Opera House and Treasures of the Heart of NY will host two concerts to raise awareness about local hunger issues and to benefit local food cupboard, including ours.
The first concert Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m. features local musicians Tumbleweed Highway, Rabbit in the Rye, Pamme Swan and Caitlin Grossjung. The goal is to expand support for Madison, Hamilton and Earlville food cupboards.
In Madison County, 12 food pantries -- including ours -- served 8,025 families (29,125 individuals) in 2005. Last year that number grew to 13,387 families (44,078 people). A 60 percent increase.
The May 4 concert marks the release of a new Treasures of the Heart of NY CD of original and traditional music in support of local food cupboards. The musicians on the annual collection of tunes, each donate their work to this worthy cause. In fact, there are so many musicians donating to this amazing cause that they could not all fit on the compilation CD. There are more tunes available to download.
The CD may be purchased at www.treasuresintheheartofny.org.
Tickets for the concert are $8 adults and $5 students/youth are on sale now at 315-691-3550 or www.earlvilleoperahouse.com. Seating is reserved with premium seating in front rows.
A second concert is planned for later this year.
The first concert Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m. features local musicians Tumbleweed Highway, Rabbit in the Rye, Pamme Swan and Caitlin Grossjung. The goal is to expand support for Madison, Hamilton and Earlville food cupboards.
In Madison County, 12 food pantries -- including ours -- served 8,025 families (29,125 individuals) in 2005. Last year that number grew to 13,387 families (44,078 people). A 60 percent increase.
The May 4 concert marks the release of a new Treasures of the Heart of NY CD of original and traditional music in support of local food cupboards. The musicians on the annual collection of tunes, each donate their work to this worthy cause. In fact, there are so many musicians donating to this amazing cause that they could not all fit on the compilation CD. There are more tunes available to download.
The CD may be purchased at www.treasuresintheheartofny.org.
Tickets for the concert are $8 adults and $5 students/youth are on sale now at 315-691-3550 or www.earlvilleoperahouse.com. Seating is reserved with premium seating in front rows.
A second concert is planned for later this year.
Coffee & Tea 'Ambassadors' to Aid Food Cupboard
A group of Colgate students affiliated with a coffee and tea company founded by alumni is joining forces with the Hamilton Food Cupboard to help ensure local children have proper nutrition once school lets out.
Students who are "ambassadors" for Shapna Coffee and team met recently with Food Cupboard officials at the Barge Canal Coffee Company to discuss what could be done.
"I feel that the summer lunch program is a very important in helping the families in need in our area by providing healthy lunches throughout the summer," said Food Cupboard Executive Director Suzanne Collins. "Partnering with Shapna will enable us to build a stronger program."
Katherine Schultz, one of the Shapna ambassadors said, "The gathering at the Barge was an effort to solidify the unity of Shapna and the Food Cupboard on a project for a summer lunch program for students from Madison and Hamilton.
"Shapna is not only donating money, but they are also donating their time in the form of outreach in order to get more companies in the community to donate food for the summer lunch program."
Students who are "ambassadors" for Shapna Coffee and team met recently with Food Cupboard officials at the Barge Canal Coffee Company to discuss what could be done.
"I feel that the summer lunch program is a very important in helping the families in need in our area by providing healthy lunches throughout the summer," said Food Cupboard Executive Director Suzanne Collins. "Partnering with Shapna will enable us to build a stronger program."
Katherine Schultz, one of the Shapna ambassadors said, "The gathering at the Barge was an effort to solidify the unity of Shapna and the Food Cupboard on a project for a summer lunch program for students from Madison and Hamilton.
"Shapna is not only donating money, but they are also donating their time in the form of outreach in order to get more companies in the community to donate food for the summer lunch program."
