Our Past Year In Review:
As we close out our fiscal year in June I wanted to take the oportunity to thank you and your church family for your support this past year. We are truly blessed here at Canandaigua Churches in Action (CCIA) to have such a caring and giving church family. Without your support we could not accomplish what God has planned for us here in our community.
I would like to give you a snap shot of what we have been able to accomplish this year. The CCIA food pantry served emergency food to 4,841 families at our two locations. This number reflects 13,501 adults, children and elderly who benefited from access to emergency food. Hunger insecurity remains a concern here in our community.
The “Supply A Smile” Dental Program helped 135 individuals with free dental care, and our one day “Free Smiles Day” helped 126 individuals with free dental care. Pastor Joan has done an amazing work in providing this greatly needed service. We give thanks to the many dental offices and professionals that have given their time to make this a huge success. We are currently making plans for next year’s monthly dental program and free smile day.
CCIA is in our third year of the Back Pack Program, working with the Canandaigua Primary – Elementary School to provide backpacks filled with different food items to help provide meals at home for our kids during the long school breaks. Through the kindness and generosity of a donation we were able to add an additional distribution day this year. We averaged 130 back packs during these 5 distributions. We are exploring the possiblity of expanding this to once a month and even two times a month in the coming school year. We are seeking help to fund this important need. On average it costs $375.00 for each distribution.
The “CCIA Resource Room” continues to see 25- 30 individuals seeking a variety of services each week. Using our many emergency providers here at 120 N. Main and the other programs in our county we look to connect those in need with the different service(s) that are available here to assist them. We continue to partner with Fidelis Care, NY Law, and Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes. We are thankful to have St.Vincent de Paul, Care Net, and Anthony Jordan here at 120 N. Main St.
The CCIA Mobile Food Pantry started its 5th season in June. This once a month food distribution has been an added source of help for families in need of food. We set up a farmers market type setting in the back parking lot at the Thompson Apartments. Foodlink provides a truck load of various food items that our volunteers will set out for distribution. We are thankful for our volunteers who work outside in the rain or sunshine. We are thankful for the abilty to use the First United Methodist Church parking lot. This space allows our guests and volunteers a needed place to park. This Mobile Pantry will run once a month on the last Saturday of the month through October.
Again, thank you for your kindness and generosity in supporting Canandaigua Churches In Action. Without your help we could not accomplish our mission to our families. We are always looking for more volunteers. If you have a group or individuals who would be interested in serving please have them contact me.
As we close out our fiscal year in June I wanted to take the oportunity to thank you and your church family for your support this past year. We are truly blessed here at Canandaigua Churches in Action (CCIA) to have such a caring and giving church family. Without your support we could not accomplish what God has planned for us here in our community.
I would like to give you a snap shot of what we have been able to accomplish this year. The CCIA food pantry served emergency food to 4,841 families at our two locations. This number reflects 13,501 adults, children and elderly who benefited from access to emergency food. Hunger insecurity remains a concern here in our community.
The “Supply A Smile” Dental Program helped 135 individuals with free dental care, and our one day “Free Smiles Day” helped 126 individuals with free dental care. Pastor Joan has done an amazing work in providing this greatly needed service. We give thanks to the many dental offices and professionals that have given their time to make this a huge success. We are currently making plans for next year’s monthly dental program and free smile day.
CCIA is in our third year of the Back Pack Program, working with the Canandaigua Primary – Elementary School to provide backpacks filled with different food items to help provide meals at home for our kids during the long school breaks. Through the kindness and generosity of a donation we were able to add an additional distribution day this year. We averaged 130 back packs during these 5 distributions. We are exploring the possiblity of expanding this to once a month and even two times a month in the coming school year. We are seeking help to fund this important need. On average it costs $375.00 for each distribution.
The “CCIA Resource Room” continues to see 25- 30 individuals seeking a variety of services each week. Using our many emergency providers here at 120 N. Main and the other programs in our county we look to connect those in need with the different service(s) that are available here to assist them. We continue to partner with Fidelis Care, NY Law, and Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes. We are thankful to have St.Vincent de Paul, Care Net, and Anthony Jordan here at 120 N. Main St.
The CCIA Mobile Food Pantry started its 5th season in June. This once a month food distribution has been an added source of help for families in need of food. We set up a farmers market type setting in the back parking lot at the Thompson Apartments. Foodlink provides a truck load of various food items that our volunteers will set out for distribution. We are thankful for our volunteers who work outside in the rain or sunshine. We are thankful for the abilty to use the First United Methodist Church parking lot. This space allows our guests and volunteers a needed place to park. This Mobile Pantry will run once a month on the last Saturday of the month through October.
Again, thank you for your kindness and generosity in supporting Canandaigua Churches In Action. Without your help we could not accomplish our mission to our families. We are always looking for more volunteers. If you have a group or individuals who would be interested in serving please have them contact me.
CCIA NEWSLETTERS
Winter 2018 Newsletter
How Can I Help?
From The Director’s Chair
New CCIA Representative
Thank You
The Least Of These
How Can I Help?
From The Director’s Chair
New CCIA Representative
Thank You
The Least Of These
| newsletter_winter_2018.pdf |
Previous Newsletters
How Can I Help?
There are many ways that you can help out. Have you ever considered doing a food drive? A food drive can be done in many places. You can hold a food drive in your community, workplace, school, or church. It is always good to get permission in advance. Some have used a birthday or anniversary as a great time to hold a food drive. Instead of receiving gifts they encourage their friends to bring items to donate to the food pantry. We can always use non- perishable food and personal care items. If you need a list of suggested donation items let us know at the food pantry. We would be glad to give you a list. Call Pastor Jeff Lippincott 394-7450.
Volunteers are always needed. Tuesday through Saturday the food pantry is open. Our open hours run between 10 am – Noon and Noon – 2 pm. If you have a few hours to volunteer let us know by contacting Maggie Wiegand 394-3218 or Pastor Jeff Lippincott 394-7450.
Food deliveries come every two weeks on Mondays. Foodlink drops off 2-3 pallets of supplies. Our volunteers need to unload the pallets and using a cart will take the product down to the pantry for sorting and stocking shelves. We can always use some extra help. This does require some lifting, standing, bending and, at times, exposure to the outside elements. If you have somefreetimebetween9 am and 11 am let Pastor Jeff 394-7450 know.
During the winter months consider doing a hat and glove drive. Like the food pantry this can be done in many places. These items are always in need during these cold months. We like to have an extra supply on hand to give out at the food pantry and Resource Room.
A great way to get your youth groups and children’s church involved is making Birthday Bags. These are small gift type bags filled with some birthday items such as: cake mix, frosting, candles, and balloons. You can be creative and add more items if you choose. If you need some help with this idea please contact Pastor Jeff 394-7450.
Thank you for considering ways to help support CCIA.
From The Director’s Chair
As we close out the year and head into a new year, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all of our supporters , volunteers and member churches . Without your help we could not accomplish all that God has planned for us.
I would like to give you a snapshot of what we have been able to accomplish this past year. The CCIA food pantry served emergency food to over 5,000 families. This is an increase of 381 families from the prior year. The “Supply A Smile” Dental Clinic helped over 150 individuals with free dental care, and our one-day “Free Smiles” Dental Clinic helped 102 individuals with free dental care.
The CCIA Mobile Food Pantry served over 775 families with our one-day a month food distribution from June through October. CCIA working with the Canandaigua Primary- Elementary School helped to provide over 550 backpacks filled with different food items to help provide meals at home for our kids during the four long school breaks.
CCIA was able to establish a new outreach ministry here at 120 N. Main Street this fall. This new ministry in Room 27 is known as the “CCIA Resource Room”. Those seeking help may be unaware of what services are available and where to obtain these services. Using our many emergency providers and programs in our county we look to connect those in need with the different services that are available here to assist them. We continue to partner with Fidelis Care, NY Law, and Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes. Together we have assisted over 1,500 individuals whether here at CCIA, or we were able to refer them elsewhere for help.
Again, thank you to all of those who have supported CCIA in many different ways throughout the year. Your kindness and generosity in giving and your love in serving as volunteers has touched many lives here in our local community and throughout Ontario County.
Blessings, Pastor Jeff
New CCIA Representative
When her Pastor’s wife asked Millie Hough if she’d be willing to represent Life Spring Community Church at CCIA, it’s not surprising that Millie jumped at the opportunity. Before she retired from her job, Millie worked at the Food Pantry. “It’s fun to give away free food,” she said. “And it’s good to help people in need and to do the Lord’s work.” She wasn’t able to do as much as she liked while working in personal home care, but now that she’s retired, she is happy to be back in touch with CCIA.
Millie and her husband of 47 years, Jim, attended Moody’s Bible Institute together in the 1970’s. Jim went on to seminary, and they had planned to serve as missionaries in Brazil. But as Millie explained, “God had other plans for us.” Instead, Jim and Millie serve on Life Spring’s mission committee. Millie also volunteers at Light Hill Comfort Care House. They raised two sons, David and Dan. David is a doctor working at the Center for Refugee Health in Rochester. Dan and his wife Sara are missionaries in Paraguay. Between them they’ve blessed Millie and Jim with nine grandchildren.
Millie loves what CCIA does in the Canandaigua area. She said, “It is a wonderful outreach to our community and it is expanding all the time to meet peoples’ needs.” Maybe it’s a good thing for us that God didn’t send Millie to Brazil— she and her family are loving assets to us right here.
Thank You
To our many faith partners and our local community that supports CCIA through their kindness and generosity with their financial giving!
Aloquin- Flint United Methodist Church – Food Drive, Chapin United Methodist Church- Food Drive, St. Mary’s – Food Drive, United Church - Food Drive, New Covenant Baptist –Tops food drive, Good Shepherd – Ground Beef Donation, Ruth Eichler – Food Drive to celebrate her birthday, Boy Scout Troop 37 – Food Drive, Boy Scout Troop 29 – Food Drive, Girl Scout Troop 40875, Girl Scout Troop 40315, Cub Scout Pack 30, Cub Scout Pack 29, Cub Scout Pack 32, Paychecks - Food Drive, Ontario Co. Probation Dept. – Food Drive, Canandaigua & Victor Basketball Boosters—Commodore Cup fundraiser.
The Least Of These
So what turned Bill Robinson’s search for a needed pastoral job into becoming the chaplain for the Ontario County Jail?
Hearing The Lord’s call on his heart while on the thruway near Syracuse, after visiting a friend in prison. The Lord said- “you need to see him as redeemable.” And so started Bill’s ministry journey. After a conversation with David Sealy, the chaplain at the time, Bill “felt” that he was where he was called to be.
Bill has been given the gift to be able to enter the prison, and minister deeply and not be weighted down by what he hears and experiences. He can build relationships with prisoners, carrying their own weight of addiction, PTSD, homelessness and despair, and walk with them as equals. Bill can simply be “Bill” to each prisoner he comes in contact with.
Bill serves as the “Front Man” for many volunteers that come into the jail from both formal church outreaches and many who simply have a heart for those in prison. Prison is a place where every church is touched by a family member who is incarcerated.
So what is happening in the Ontario County Jail? Formal Bible studies on any given day, but more importantly, the prisoners minister to each other and hold each other accountable in their faith walks. Pod 7 is its own “Church” of caring men, who walk with each other as the Body of Christ and grow in their knowledge of the Lord through studying His Word. Bill says to tell everyone- “Our county is incredibly blessed by the level of care and support— both within the system—from the Sheriff on down, and from without—by many caring volunteers.”
What are Bill’s dreams for the future? He would like to see more churches and volunteers from the Geneva side of the county. He would like to see churches being intentionally welcoming to prisoners who have been released and are searching for a church family that is as supportive and rich in its involvement as the “Church Inside” is. He says that letter writing seems to be such a simple gift, but that it can mean the world to a prisoner. He also wants to set up an information booth in the lobby of the jail on visitation day, so that families can get information on any number of challenges. They may even be struggling to find out exactly where their loved one has been moved. Many prisoners are shuffled around the state, and the family does not get informed. Many other “Challenges” of the state system frustrate and overwhelm family members. Such an information service would be a wonderful gift. He would also like to set up a more formal network among the area’s county jail chaplains to support each other and share resources. Bill is also very interested in exploring the “In Prison” ministry that Community Bible Study has established nationally. It might be an excellent partner.
What can you do? Pray is the first and most important job we all have. Then consider contacting Bill- 585-412-6059 or e-mail him at wrobinson004@rochester.rr.c om and find out how YOU can make a difference.
How Can I Help?
There are many ways that you can help out. Have you ever considered doing a food drive? A food drive can be done in many places. You can hold a food drive in your community, workplace, school, or church. It is always good to get permission in advance. Some have used a birthday or anniversary as a great time to hold a food drive. Instead of receiving gifts they encourage their friends to bring items to donate to the food pantry. We can always use non- perishable food and personal care items. If you need a list of suggested donation items let us know at the food pantry. We would be glad to give you a list. Call Pastor Jeff Lippincott 394-7450.
Volunteers are always needed. Tuesday through Saturday the food pantry is open. Our open hours run between 10 am – Noon and Noon – 2 pm. If you have a few hours to volunteer let us know by contacting Maggie Wiegand 394-3218 or Pastor Jeff Lippincott 394-7450.
Food deliveries come every two weeks on Mondays. Foodlink drops off 2-3 pallets of supplies. Our volunteers need to unload the pallets and using a cart will take the product down to the pantry for sorting and stocking shelves. We can always use some extra help. This does require some lifting, standing, bending and, at times, exposure to the outside elements. If you have somefreetimebetween9 am and 11 am let Pastor Jeff 394-7450 know.
During the winter months consider doing a hat and glove drive. Like the food pantry this can be done in many places. These items are always in need during these cold months. We like to have an extra supply on hand to give out at the food pantry and Resource Room.
A great way to get your youth groups and children’s church involved is making Birthday Bags. These are small gift type bags filled with some birthday items such as: cake mix, frosting, candles, and balloons. You can be creative and add more items if you choose. If you need some help with this idea please contact Pastor Jeff 394-7450.
Thank you for considering ways to help support CCIA.
From The Director’s Chair
As we close out the year and head into a new year, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all of our supporters , volunteers and member churches . Without your help we could not accomplish all that God has planned for us.
I would like to give you a snapshot of what we have been able to accomplish this past year. The CCIA food pantry served emergency food to over 5,000 families. This is an increase of 381 families from the prior year. The “Supply A Smile” Dental Clinic helped over 150 individuals with free dental care, and our one-day “Free Smiles” Dental Clinic helped 102 individuals with free dental care.
The CCIA Mobile Food Pantry served over 775 families with our one-day a month food distribution from June through October. CCIA working with the Canandaigua Primary- Elementary School helped to provide over 550 backpacks filled with different food items to help provide meals at home for our kids during the four long school breaks.
CCIA was able to establish a new outreach ministry here at 120 N. Main Street this fall. This new ministry in Room 27 is known as the “CCIA Resource Room”. Those seeking help may be unaware of what services are available and where to obtain these services. Using our many emergency providers and programs in our county we look to connect those in need with the different services that are available here to assist them. We continue to partner with Fidelis Care, NY Law, and Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes. Together we have assisted over 1,500 individuals whether here at CCIA, or we were able to refer them elsewhere for help.
Again, thank you to all of those who have supported CCIA in many different ways throughout the year. Your kindness and generosity in giving and your love in serving as volunteers has touched many lives here in our local community and throughout Ontario County.
Blessings, Pastor Jeff
New CCIA Representative
When her Pastor’s wife asked Millie Hough if she’d be willing to represent Life Spring Community Church at CCIA, it’s not surprising that Millie jumped at the opportunity. Before she retired from her job, Millie worked at the Food Pantry. “It’s fun to give away free food,” she said. “And it’s good to help people in need and to do the Lord’s work.” She wasn’t able to do as much as she liked while working in personal home care, but now that she’s retired, she is happy to be back in touch with CCIA.
Millie and her husband of 47 years, Jim, attended Moody’s Bible Institute together in the 1970’s. Jim went on to seminary, and they had planned to serve as missionaries in Brazil. But as Millie explained, “God had other plans for us.” Instead, Jim and Millie serve on Life Spring’s mission committee. Millie also volunteers at Light Hill Comfort Care House. They raised two sons, David and Dan. David is a doctor working at the Center for Refugee Health in Rochester. Dan and his wife Sara are missionaries in Paraguay. Between them they’ve blessed Millie and Jim with nine grandchildren.
Millie loves what CCIA does in the Canandaigua area. She said, “It is a wonderful outreach to our community and it is expanding all the time to meet peoples’ needs.” Maybe it’s a good thing for us that God didn’t send Millie to Brazil— she and her family are loving assets to us right here.
Thank You
To our many faith partners and our local community that supports CCIA through their kindness and generosity with their financial giving!
Aloquin- Flint United Methodist Church – Food Drive, Chapin United Methodist Church- Food Drive, St. Mary’s – Food Drive, United Church - Food Drive, New Covenant Baptist –Tops food drive, Good Shepherd – Ground Beef Donation, Ruth Eichler – Food Drive to celebrate her birthday, Boy Scout Troop 37 – Food Drive, Boy Scout Troop 29 – Food Drive, Girl Scout Troop 40875, Girl Scout Troop 40315, Cub Scout Pack 30, Cub Scout Pack 29, Cub Scout Pack 32, Paychecks - Food Drive, Ontario Co. Probation Dept. – Food Drive, Canandaigua & Victor Basketball Boosters—Commodore Cup fundraiser.
The Least Of These
So what turned Bill Robinson’s search for a needed pastoral job into becoming the chaplain for the Ontario County Jail?
Hearing The Lord’s call on his heart while on the thruway near Syracuse, after visiting a friend in prison. The Lord said- “you need to see him as redeemable.” And so started Bill’s ministry journey. After a conversation with David Sealy, the chaplain at the time, Bill “felt” that he was where he was called to be.
Bill has been given the gift to be able to enter the prison, and minister deeply and not be weighted down by what he hears and experiences. He can build relationships with prisoners, carrying their own weight of addiction, PTSD, homelessness and despair, and walk with them as equals. Bill can simply be “Bill” to each prisoner he comes in contact with.
Bill serves as the “Front Man” for many volunteers that come into the jail from both formal church outreaches and many who simply have a heart for those in prison. Prison is a place where every church is touched by a family member who is incarcerated.
So what is happening in the Ontario County Jail? Formal Bible studies on any given day, but more importantly, the prisoners minister to each other and hold each other accountable in their faith walks. Pod 7 is its own “Church” of caring men, who walk with each other as the Body of Christ and grow in their knowledge of the Lord through studying His Word. Bill says to tell everyone- “Our county is incredibly blessed by the level of care and support— both within the system—from the Sheriff on down, and from without—by many caring volunteers.”
What are Bill’s dreams for the future? He would like to see more churches and volunteers from the Geneva side of the county. He would like to see churches being intentionally welcoming to prisoners who have been released and are searching for a church family that is as supportive and rich in its involvement as the “Church Inside” is. He says that letter writing seems to be such a simple gift, but that it can mean the world to a prisoner. He also wants to set up an information booth in the lobby of the jail on visitation day, so that families can get information on any number of challenges. They may even be struggling to find out exactly where their loved one has been moved. Many prisoners are shuffled around the state, and the family does not get informed. Many other “Challenges” of the state system frustrate and overwhelm family members. Such an information service would be a wonderful gift. He would also like to set up a more formal network among the area’s county jail chaplains to support each other and share resources. Bill is also very interested in exploring the “In Prison” ministry that Community Bible Study has established nationally. It might be an excellent partner.
What can you do? Pray is the first and most important job we all have. Then consider contacting Bill- 585-412-6059 or e-mail him at wrobinson004@rochester.rr.c om and find out how YOU can make a difference.