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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015
Take a look at some of the caring efforts which occur locally What may go unnoticed to some is the wide range of services provided to children, families and individuals from all walks of life who are battling to make ends meet — or just survive. We are blessed to live in a region that cares about and is committed to providing essential services to those in our surrounding communities. Our local nonprofits, unwavering in their missions, are making a difference in the lives they serve. Inside the pages of Community That Cares, you will see many of
them featured, as well as the efforts of other organizations. It’s a great time to discover how they significantly enhance the quality of life throughout the Twin Tiers region. We hope you enjoy reading this section and find inspiration in the good deeds accomplished every day — and all year — by so many caring organizations and people. Consider taking time out and meet some terrific people at nearby organizations and discover rewarding opportunities that exist for volunteers of all ages. The residents of this region have
an enormous capacity for generosity and compassion for those less fortunate. The Bradford Era, Olean Times
Herald and Salamanca Press are proud to be a part of this giving region that cares so much and does so much for others in true need.
Inside this edition ® United Way: Connecting with needs for 90 years ................ page 4 ® Being a haven for children and many others .......................... page 6 ® Beacon Light focuses on those with challenges ..................... page 8 ® Genesis House filled with needy; can use donations ............... page 10 ® Building brighter futures each and every day ............................ page 12 ® Fishes and Loaves optimistic community will deliver ......... page 14 ® Salvation Army now better able to serve people ....................... page 14
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015
Destinations-Bradford fills large hole It’s administering several programs which help variety of county residents By Amanda Nichols, Alex Davis and Jennifer Willeman
BRADFORD, Pa. — DestinationsBradford offers everything from a clothing closet to a food pantry. And in 2014, the organization took over for the American Red Cross to administer the local Emergency Pharmacy Assistance Program in conjunction with the Bradford Area Cluster of United Methodist Churches. The Methodist cluster is continuing to raise funds and cover the costs of medications for those in dire straights and unable to purchase them on their own, while Destinations Bradford will be the administrator of the program, screening applicants for eligibility and assisting them in finding permanent prescription programs for their needs, according to Bradford Area United Methodist Cluster Chairperson Susan Rae. Representatives from both organizations are optimistic about the partnership, saying they believe it will result in more need being met — though they are appreciative of the work the local Red Cross did to make the program successful over the past 17 years. According to Rae, the Red Cross notified the cluster this year that changes at the national level would no longer permit the Bradford location to stay involved with programs outside of specific Red Cross work. “The Red Cross did a terrific job, but when they couldn’t do it anymore Destinations stepped up and said, ‘Let’s try it.’” Rae said. “They do a lot of services there, and this fits right in with what they offer.” Destinations-Bradford Executive Director Becky Plummer said when the organization was approached
Kate Day Sager photo
Donna Butler (center) hugs her daughter, Madison, over the summer after she returned from a week of camping with other children at Camp Penuel East in Eldred, Pa. The event was a joint project conducted by the camp and Destinations-Bradford.
by the Red Cross and the Methodist cluster, Destinations gladly agreed to step in. “It so rightly fits our demographic ... we certainly wanted to move forward with it,” Plummer said. “We are very excited to be helping administer the program.” Plummer said she thinks the number of people served by the program will grow due to Destinations’ easy-to-access location, updates to streamline the process and the increase in public knowledge of the offering. “And with that, donations are going to be needed,” Plummer added, noting checks can be made out to the Bradford Area United Methodist Cluster and dropped off at any Methodist church in the area or to the Destinations-Bradford location at 1 Main St. “Hopefully, this will bring more attention to the program and it will get used more,” said Rae. “And, hopefully more people with donate. That’d be great.” Since the cluster funds all administrative costs, every dollar of every contribution goes toward helping those in need, according to Rae. She
said the program began in 1997 and has raised more than $90,000 to fill life-sustaining prescriptions for more than 600 applicants in the McKean County. Rae noted in addition to individual donations, the cluster relies on the generosity of social service agencies and other churches, which they reach out to throughout the year for help. She and Plummer also made it clear that only people who have a real emergency need for assistance are eligible for prescription-cost coverage. “The program intends to provide emergency prescription payment when all other means have been exhausted, such as insurance when available,” Plummer said. “This helps the cluster to stretch its dollars to help more people who need it. Also, someone must have proof of the medical necessity and there has to be a financial need.” Rae said examples of those who would qualify include people who experience a medical emergency and can’t sustain without medications after coming out of the hospital, people whose medications were sto-
len or lost in a fire — anyone enduring extenuating circumstances that is preventing them from getting the drugs they need to survive. “It’s for people from all walks of life. Sometimes prescriptions are so expensive, people’s budgets just don’t stretch that far again to replace them or that far at all in an emergency situation,” she said. “We’ve had senior citizens on a fixed income who can’t get prescription coverage, families who don’t have prescription insurance even though they may work, children who may have had an extra expense with a serious health problem.” Rae said she hopes they will be able to continue to help those in need find a permanent solution, such as pointing applicants in the right direction for other payment options to cover costs in the long term. “Maybe they didn’t know that their veterans’ benefits would cover it or if they qualified for a prescription plan like PACE,” she explained. “We want to help them save money and get what they need. If they need our help then they can go See Destinations, page10
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015
United Way’s funds are distributed to local community organizations for the purpose of community building and enhancing the quality of life in the greater Bradford area.
United Way: Connecting with needs for 90 years BRADFORD, Pa. — “The United Way has been connecting community resources with the needs of individuals since 1925. Together we can ensure that the services provided by our member agencies continue to be available for our friends, families and neighbors who need it most.” Those are the words of Lisa Minich, who is the co-chairwoman of the United Way of the Bradford Area. For 2014, the “Be a Champion” campaign had a $345,000 goal. “The landscape of our community would be vastly different without the United Way, which currently benefits 29 agencies and 51 different programs. A significant number of these agencies rely on the United Way for substantial portions of their funding, without which these agencies would not be able to provide the high level of services our community deserves,” co-chairwoman Jeannine Schoenecker said.
United Way Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis said the United Way has already received applications from three new agencies and requests for increased funding from three existing ones. “We set an ambitious goal for 2014, but, year over year, appeals always exceed funding,” Wilton Davis said. “This year requests just through the RFP (request for proposals) process exceeded funding by 11 percent.” United Way’s funds are distributed to local community organizations for the purpose of community building and enhancing the quality of life in the greater Bradford area. A total of 29 agencies and 51 programs and services receive funding from the organization’s annual appeal, which runs from Aug. 15 through Dec. 15. Contact the United Way at (814) 368-6181, via email at admin@ uwbanews.org, or online at www. uwbanews.org.
Photo submitted
The United Way got some help updating the campaign goal thermometers from students and staff of Growing with Grace Christian Preschool. Director Leeanne Cuddy (center), Malaysia Smith-Ellis (at right) and Oliver Taylor fill in the red as United Way officials announced 95 percent of the $345,000 campaign goal has been raised with just under a month remaining in the appeal. Smith-Ellis, 2, is the daughter of Tim and Deneen Rowe of Bradford; Taylor, 3, is the son of Scott and Erica Taylor of Bradford.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015
Being a haven for children and many others The Salvation Army is here to serve those in need By Amanda Nichols and Alex Davis
BRADFORD, Pa. — The Salvation Army of Bradford markets itself as a safe haven for children, and that rang true in 2014. In September, the organization opened its doors to children, offering them a safe haven after school and taking stress off working parents. The weekly after-school program, dubbed The Booth Academy, focuses on homework help and music education. Officials hope the initiative for kindergarten through sixth-grade students fills a major need in the community. “This program will be greatly beneficial to the children and families in the Bradford area. Not only does The Booth Academy provide someplace for the kids to come that is both a safe and friendly environment, but there are many statistics that show the correlation between involvement in music and higher test scores and behavioral improvement,” said Lt. Shane Carter, corps officer at The Salvation Army. Carter pointed to a study from the University of British Columbia which showed children between kindergarten and third grade who take part in music score 22 percent higher in mathematics. Carter is hoping to offer piano lessons, youth chorus and lessons in the traditional Salvation Army performing art called timbrels. In addition, children will be able to get help with their homework and studying. The Booth Academy is scheduled after school until 5 p.m. Mondays at The Salvation Army building at 111 Jackson Ave. in Bradford. He wants the initiative to be far more than a typical after-school program. “The program really came about
because both Lt. Dawn (Carter) and I noticed a lack of youth in our congregation, and in speaking with other churches and even other nonchurched parents, it seemed that there was not much being made available for the kids nor was there much of a youth church presence in the area,” Carter said. “From there, we figured with both of our extensive backgrounds in youth work, education and music, this just seemed like an obvious and beneficial route to take to really serve a need in the community.” Also as the Carters talked with area residents, they learned a major focus in the area is on the youth, he said. “Everyone we seemed to speak with in the community seemed to notice the importance of having something for the kids in the community,” Carter said. “We are really just trying to do our best to meet a need out of the provisions, gifts and talents that God has given us.” Carter and his wife, Dawn, have made quick work in getting involved in the community. They moved to the area to be lieutenants of the local Salvation Army in June. “We have been given a gift from God through our musical abilities and we feel that because He freely gave to us we should be using our gifts to serve His kingdom,” Carter said. Children can sign up for the program at 111 Jackson Ave. The cost is $5 per day to cover snacks and potential music lessons available to the children. The Salvation Army of Bradford helped children in others ways, too. It distributed backpacks again in 2014. This year The Salvation Army will be able to distribute backpacks filled with basic school supplies to the first 100 children on a first-
Photo submitted
Lt. Dawn Carter of The Salvation Army of Bradford offers a backpack to a resident. The organization again distributed backpacks filled with school supplies to qualifying students in 2014.
come, first-served application basis. The event was called School Tool Back 2 School. “It is no secret that money is tight just about everywhere right now,” said Carter. “Unfortunately, because of budgetary constraints we have had to cut the number of people we are able to serve with this year’s program — something we deeply regret having to do. Because of this, we are looking to the people of Bradford area for help, We are looking for people to make sponsorship to cover some of the growing cost so that next year we might be able to assist even more children once again.” The international Salvation Army helps in many others ways, too. Each year nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army, ranging from food, relief for disaster
victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church and has been supporting those in need for 130 years in the United States. The group also provides monthly and holiday food assistance as well as access to gently used clothing and even help with utilities through Neighbor for Neighbor applications, as well as utility assistance is available. Without the success of the seasonal Red Kettle campaign, the functioning of these vital services is hindered throughout the remainder of the year, according to Carter. For more information about The Salvation Army, contact Carter at (814) 368-7012.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015
Beacon Light focuses on those with challenges B RADFORD, Pa. — Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems has been an advocate and leader in the community in assisting individuals and families fighting mental health and behavioral health challenges. From its humble roots as an orphanage assisting abandoned children of the early oil and timber booms in Bradford in the early 20th century, to its 35-plus locations in 10 counties throughout the state today, the mission of Beacon Light has always remained consistent. The agency employs over 500 people, ranging from support staff to psychiatrists, therapists to teachers, financial experts to maintenance crews. It operates two schools, six homes for children in need of intense help outside their family home, three specialized programs for children with specific needs, two satellite residential facilities, as well as multiple community-based programs that assist families in their home or school settings. Beacon Light also has a comprehensive adult continuum, providing outpatient therapy, peer-
supported mental health recovery initiatives, an inpatient Community Stabilization and Reintegration Unit, and a consumer drop-in center and life skills educational environment in Warren, Pa. One of the goals that the Board of Directors at Beacon Light has made a priority over the past few years is the commitment to growth in services and opportunities that meet the behavioral health needs of the communities it serves. Toward the end, it has finalized an affiliation with Stairways Behavioral Health of Erie, Pa. This affiliation joins both organizations under a common support corporation that helps guide the administrative, financial, human resources, information technology and clinical quality for both members. While each agency remains an independent and locally governed business, the support corporation helps provide a framework for improved delivery of services and stronger growth opportunities. Additionally, in 2014 Beacon Light was awarded a $3 million grant from Pennsylvania
to renovate and expand its headquarters on East Main Street in Bradford. The administrative building there is in need of major repairs, including a new roof, updated heating and cooling systems, and handicap accessibility, including an elevator. The grant, coupled with matching funds from a private capital campaign, will allow Beacon Light to build a large training and education center off the north end of the building. Following construction on the training center, a new residential wing will be added on the first street building, which is also part of the main campus. This wing will allow for a group of Beacon Light’s children in its residential care who are most in need to have a better treatment environment, including access to a cafeteria, indoor gymnasium, classrooms and therapy rooms, all within the facility itself. Beacon Light has been an integral part of the greater Bradford community for more than a century already, and its plan is to continue treating children and families for another 100 years.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015
Genesis House filled with needy; could benefit from donations By Kate Day Sager
OLEAN, N.Y. — The generosity of the holiday season is past, but the need for help from the community is ever-present at the Genesis House homeless shelter on South Barry Street in Olean. Lenore Lounsbury, executive director of Genesis House, and Sister Melissa Scholl, coordinator of volunteers and after-care services, have reported the shelter is filled with the needy and has a waiting list. “If anything, the cold weather and the snow have made it even more hard for people,” Sister Scholl said. Lounsbury noted the shelter has many needs listed on its wish list. They include paper towels, paper plates, tissue and other paper products, bar soap, automatic dishwasher soap, laundry soap, milk, eggs, spices, coffee, coffee filters, mops, and brooms and dust pans for residents to keep at their own apartments. Sister Scholl said the shelter also is in need of towels. “We are in desperate need of towels for people who have been moving in and out of the shelter and take them when they leave. As a result, we’re very low on towels,” she remarked. Other needs that will continue
Linore Lounsbury is the executive director for the Genesis House in Olean. Her shelter facility is maxed out.
throughout the winter season include boots for youngsters who have no heavy footwear for the snow and cold weather. In addition, the shelter is always in need of canned goods and other non-perishable foods to keep onhand for meals fed to the residents. “We’ll take any canned goods that are not outdated,” Sister Scholl
said. On a final note, Lounsbury, Sister Scholl and the shelter staff said they are grateful for the help provided by the community during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, and hope that generosity will continue through the rest of the winter. “Come the end of January and
beginning of February, the needs don’t decrease,” Sister Scholl said. Other items needed by the shelter can be found on the Genesis House Olean Facebook page. For more information on how to help the shelter, call 373-3354. (Contact reporter Kate Day Sager at kates_th@yahoo.com)
Destinations Continued from page 3
to Destinations and apply, then they will get a voucher for the drug store.” Plummer said the program will work through Ott & McHenry pharmacy, with payments going straight to the pharmacy to ensure applicants get the prescriptions to help them. She noted they decided to use only one pharmacy because it would help streamline the process. “It was a hard decision — four great pharmacies are here together — but their extended hours appealed to us,” Plummer explained. “People in need can just come here to the (Destinations) office anytime or give us a call and we can explain what needs to be done, have them come in to sign
papers and get the process moving.” Destinations-Bradford also took part in Camp Penuel in Eldred. It’s a free camping experience for the 40 children who attended in 2014. Plummer said 2014 was the first year the nondenominational Christian camp, which typically hosts inner-city children, was opened to youngsters age 7 to 11 from Bradford. She said it was deemed a success, judging from the amount of children who signed up and attended. In addition, Destinations-Bradford also offers a clothing closet, which takes clothing donations in excellent to good shape and renders them to the community free of charge, providing a food pantry with hygiene and cleaning supplies, and offering water bottles inside office doors, located at the
corner of Main and Mechanic streets, during the summer months. “We (Destinations-Bradford) partner with many organizations,” Plummer said. “Our mission is to serve. When guests come in, they get all the care they can to get past their situation and build self-sustaining lifestyles. We have so many people that don’t know where to go or how to ask for help, so we try to provide a comforting situation and assure people not to feel ashamed of situations beyond their control.” In other projects, Destinations-Bradford cohosts with The Salvation Army in the fall for a blanket giveaway and assists with Camp Penuel East in Eldred, which is a free week of summer camp for children ages 7 to 11.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015
Building brighter futures each and every day ReHabilitation Center has been guiding, helping individuals in Cattaraugus County since 1957
OLEAN, N.Y. — For decades, The ReHabilitation Center’s purpose has been to build brighter futures for people with intellectual disabilities and behavioral health concerns and to give them the tools they need to be as independent as possible in their community. Quiet and unassuming though he may be, Bobby Edwards has become a great example of that mission being fulfilled to a high degree. Seventeen years ago, Bobby started out working and receiving services from The ReHab Center’s SubCon Industries — doing light assembly and packaging work and learning skills necessary to work in the community. Bobby successfully moved on to many years of community employment at a number of employers, including Walmart and Brand Names, but was recently faced with challenging medical issues that caused him considerable pain and discomfort. Despite the pain and adversity, Bobby wanted to stay active and decided to push through and volunteer back at SubCon. He helped out in the cafeteria, assisting with prevocational activities and lunches. He completed an internship working with the people as an aide and, at its conclusion, he told staff in the building that this was the kind of work that he wanted to do. The experience went so well that he was hired as a part-time cafeteria aide as part of an agency initiative to look internally as well as externally in creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities. His return has been so successful that Bobby was awarded the agency’s Jim Bellanca Building Brighter Futures Award in 2014 to recognize his strong work ethic, employment success over the long term and perseverance in the face of many obstacles. Bobby is only the second individual to ever win the award, created to honor the 40-year career of retired president and CEO Jim Bellanca. People served by the SubCon program — as well as fellow ReHab Center staff members — rave about the difference he makes, his friendliness, his flexibility and his professionalism. “Many of your co-workers and the people you help each day at SubCon have developed great admiration for you. The workers at SubCon listen to you because you relate to them as a friend and you make the effort to learn what makes them happy,” his nomination read, in part. “You are generous and respectful, flexible with your split schedule, and always professional. You are able to relate to everyone on a personal level while still maintaining your role as a staff member.” Since being hired back as a cafeteria aide in November, Bobby has taken on additional responsibilities and now assists with tracking the people served by the agency during the daily arrivals and departures at bus time. “We are so proud of Bobby’s resilience and self-advocacy,” said ReHab Center President and CEO Mari Howard. “His success is also a credit to our staff who realize that the way we build brighter futures for people in our community is going to continue to evolve and will benefit from this kind of open-mindedness and flexibility.”
Photo submitted
Bobby Edwards poses for a picture while tracking people departing on buses at the end of a workday at SubCon Industries.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015
Fishes and Loaves optimistic community will deliver By Kate Day Sager
OLEAN, N.Y. — While donations continue to be lower than last year, staff at the Loaves and Fishes food pantry in Olean remain optimistic the community will come through with money, supplies and food staples for the needy. Linda Shafer, manager of the pantry in Hillside Wesleyan Church at 753 Prospect Ave., said needy families and individuals continue to seek help from the facility, especially during the winter months.The food pantry, located in the basement of the church, is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. “Our donations are quite a bit down this year from what they had been in previous years,” Shafer said, noting she is uncertain what is causing the decrease in donations. A number of supplies that are
Kate Day Sager photo
Linda Shafer, manager of the Loaves and Fishes food pantry on Prospect Avenue in Olean, is shown unloading supplies from a Western New York Food Bank truck. Volunteers are needed to help with this task once a month.
currently needed at the pantry include pancake mix, syrup, tomato and spaghetti sauces, pasta, boxed macaroni and cheese, boxed mashed potatoes, canned soups, juices and condiments. Also needed are paper products that include toilet paper, paper towels, diapers and women’s personal hygiene products. Other items that are always needed include peanut butter and jelly, stuffing and dessert items such as cookies and cake mixes. Ms. Shafer said a staple that is in very short supply, and often requested, is sliced bread. She said the pantry has loaves of Italian-style bread, but hasn’t had sliced bread available since a local company stopped delivering the product. “If there is a source, or company where we can get sliced bread, white or wheat, that would be very good,” Shafer said. “We rely very heavily on the bread we get from
Walmart, but we don’t get sliced bread.” On another note, she said there are several regular volunteers who help with distribution of food during the week, but more are needed to unload supplies from the Western New York Food Bank truck which delivers the third Wednesday of the month. “We can use help about 1:30 p.m. on those days,” Shafer added. In addition to more donations, Shafer said, the pantry could use help from volunteers who are willing to provide publicity for the facility as well as upgrade its website. Donations can be dropped off at the pantry, or mailed to Loaves and Fishes, 753 Prospect Ave., Olean, NY 14760. For more information, call 373-6800. (Contact reporter Kate Day Sager at kates_th@yahoo.com)
Salvation Army now better able to serve the needy By Kate Day Sager
OLEAN, N.Y. — In the upcoming winter months and throughout the remainder of the year, The Salvation Army in Olean will be better able to serve the needy in the community thanks to the success of the Red Kettle drive this holiday season. Majors Richard and Jody Best reported the donation drive slightly exceeded its goal of $60,000 and will help fund the many charitable activities and services conducted by the organization. Maj. Richard Best said the Red Kettle donations are critical because The Salvation Army is completely funded by donations. The funds raised not only enabled the organization to help 148 families during the holidays, but also helped them assist 300 children with coats, hats, mittens and toys this past holiday season. “The rest of the money is going into our budget for emergency family assistance, disaster relief and our food pantry,” Maj. Richard Best said. “We’ll be able to meet the grassroots needs of the community
a lot better now.” The Salvation Army headquarters, located on East State Street, also provides a food pantry for the impoverished, operates a Thrift Store and assists people with a variety of basic and spiritual needs during its Sunday services and related activities. Salvation Army office manager Sara Livingston said the organization tries to help everyone who stops in for food, even if it’s just a loaf of bread provided by Ried’s Food Barn and Tops Market, or produce from Community Action. In October, the facility provided bread and produce to 518 households. In addition, the organization’s food pantry provided 1,359 meals to 70 households in November. Those needing need of clothing also receive vouchers to shop at the Thrift Store on North Union Street, which is in need of donations of men’s clothing and winter coats, boots and accessories. Ms. Livingston also believes the community is to be commended for donations provided to the organiza-
Christopher Michel photo
Ron Jackson, a Salvation Army volunteer, and Sara Livingston, a Salvation Army employee, set up one of the organization’s 11 red kettles. The local Salvation Army branch is seeking volunteers for its annual kettle drive.
tion during the holiday season. “I was born and raised in this town, and I’ve never seen anything like this season, as far as how generous people have been,” Ms. Livingston remarked. For more information on helping
The Salvation Army, or schedules for prayer meetings, morning worship, Bible study or Sunday school, call 372-6740. (Contact reporter Kate Day Sager at kates_th@yahoo.com)
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015