Community Action highlights a busy year serving more than 3,000 people

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee counties, welcomed guests and recapped the state of the agency at the annual staff in-service meeting Friday at the Albion Elks Lodge. (Center) Barb Shine, president of Community Action’s board of directors, introduced staff and praised the agency’s accomplishments during the past year. (Right) Bonnie Malakie, who leads Head Start, shared her department’s successes.

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans and Genesee County’s annual staff in-service meeting took place Friday at the Albion Elks Lodge with more than 100 employees from both counties.

Executive director Renee Hungerford welcomed the guests, saying its purpose was to recognize achievements, celebrate milestones, examine community needs challenges during the last year and learn about compliance.

She told of the challenges she faced when she came to the agency in October 2020, in the midst of a pandemic.

“They had recently lost their CEO to cancer and their CFO had resigned, but everybody came together as a team,” Hungerford said.

She talked about the changes that have been made, saying, “Change brings opportunity.”

Some of the changes include a new computer equipment, new website, new internet, job aids security cameras, getting Microsoft 356, parking lot lighting, first aid and Narcan training, panic buttons, adding telehealth service at the Main Street Store for veterans, receiving a grant for $250,000 from the Highmark Blue Fund for a two-year Stone Soup program and a three-year grant to start a respite program, providing organized activities, support and respite for caregivers.

The Stone Soup program’s goal is to provide 350 low-income families with nutrition education and cooking utensils and, in the second year, provide food prescription vouchers giving them access to fresh, healthy produce.

Caregivers Revitalize is the three-year respite grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation through United Way, which will provide respite every Tuesday afternoon, alternating between the YMCA in Medina and the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley. In the third year, the program will expand into Genesee County.

Last year, Hungerford introduced a program called Axis of Care, for which she won an Innovation award. The program has grown from an idea on paper a year ago as a collaborative effort between four organizations to an alliance with representatives from more than 30 local agencies. Intended to help find new ways to solve the problems so many in the community face, Hungerford said they connected more than 80 individuals to insurance, vaccines, healthcare and nutrition courses and brought resources to them through mobile resource fairs.

Community Action held a contest last year to rename its Main Street Store to better reflect all that the store offers. Not only do they have good quality, affordable clothing, jewelry, furniture and more, but they added an outdoor emergency refrigerator and walk-in coolers. They offer a tutoring program for Albion seniors and job assistance, including how to make out a resume and dress properly for a job. The new name is Main Street Corner Thrift, Gifts and More.

Jackie Dunham, left, and Melinda Daniels gave away prizes for answering agency-related questions.

Two years ago, they had a Continual Care Solutions representative do an analysis on their office and discovered they didn’t have the ability to do the type of reporting required. Katrina Chaffee took the lead on developing that program.

Hungerford said their financial system was antiquated and not working out. She hired Tom Costa this spring as chief financial officer who is working on a new system.

“We want our program directors to know how much money is left in the budget and how much they can spend,” Hungerford said.

A recap of last year’s accomplishments saw 3,134 individuals received assistance in 3,009 households; 1,077 people utilized Community Action food pantries; 1,000 utilized food distribution; 461 individuals received 6,335 prepared meals at the Eastern Orleans Community Center; 271 individuals received assistance to avoid eviction; 194 children received school supplies; 78 individuals avoided utility shut-off; 24 received employment support; 57 homes received weatherization services; 152 homes received holiday meal kits; 103 households had air conditioners installed in partnership with Social Services; 241 children enrolled in Head Start and 53 enrolled in Early Head Start, many of them receiving age appropriate immunizations and improved literacy skills; 358 youth participated in ACT – Helping Youth ACT Responsibly; and 18 students attended the credit recovery program.

Other highlights of the year include free Door Dash deliveries; sale of the West State Street property; starting a seedling program and community garden; participation in an inaugural New York State Community Action podcast; and instituting an Employee of the Month program.

Other speakers who shared their department’s goals and achievements were Bonnie Malakie, Head Start/Early Head Start; Susan Jessmer, Agency Policies and Procedures updates; Melinda Daniels and Hungerford, Basics of  ROMA, Results Oriented Management and Accountability management practice; Marty Taber, ACT; Katrina Chaffee, Emergency Services; and Tom Costa, financial.

Every three years, Community Action does a Community Needs Assessment, and they are in the process of doing one now. Some of the recommended needs are: Exploring opportunities to build and expand relations for further collaboration with community partners; exploring opportunities to build relationships with healthcare organizations; explore fund development methods to enhance current programming or develop new programs; explore opportunities to assist customers with transportation needs (new United Way funding will expand Orleans transportation program); explore opportunities to increase housing by developing a homeless shelter program; explore systems to assist with the collection of data; and enhance training opportunities for staff to increase their technology skills.

Photos by Katrina Chaffee: (Left) Sheriff’s Deputy Torry Tooley presented a program on safety at Community Action’s in-service meeting, sharing tips on everything from identifying a threat to how to act in the case of an active shooter.(Right) Charles Nesbitt, former State Assemblyman and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, was guest speaker at Community Action of Orleans and Genesee’s annual staff in-service meeting Friday. 

Two guest speakers were Deputy Torry Tooley, a SWAT team leader from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, and former Assemblyman and Distinguished Flying Cross recipient Charles Nesbitt.

Tooley showed a video and shared tips on how to defend yourself in a variety of circumstances, particularly a shooting incident.

In introducing Nesbitt, Hungerford said he was a hero and an example of courage and sacrifice.

Nesbitt told the audience they are making a difference every day in what they do, and he thanked them for making this a better place to live.

He explained he was 20 and in college when he enlisted in the military, even though he had an educational deferment, “Because if I didn’t, someone else would have to go,” he said.

He ended up in the 57th Assault Helicopter Company as a pilot, where he accumulated more than 1,000 hours of combat time.

“Here I was barely out of high school and in charge of an aircraft rescuing people,” he said.

He would later receive the Distinguished Flying Cross for his acts of heroism saving several platoons.

Nesbitt grew up in Barre, where his dad ran a farm. His dad served in World War II and then got called back during the Korean War. Charlie, his mom and brother tried to run the farm, but it eventually failed. His father later started a very successful car dealership, in which Charlie worked until making the decision to run for the New York State Assembly.

At that time the district was made up of Monroe County, 53 percent; Genesee County, 30 percent; and Orleans County 17 percent. Newscasters were predicting Orleans County had no chance whatsoever to win. In fact, one Rochester station declared the Monroe County candidate a winner.

“They forgot about Orleans County,” Nesbitt said. “I got 90 percent of the vote. I won the election two to one. There were lots of reasons why I won. I wanted to make a difference. I had kids growing up in school here and I wanted to prove a person from our little corner of the world could win, so the kids of our schools and the people who live here could win and be part of the process.”

Nesbitt soon became a ranking member of the Veterans’ Committee in Albany and eventually the minority leader of the State Assembly, leading the Republican conference.

Then Governor George Pataki called him and offered him a commission as head of the Tax Appeals Division of the State of New York.

After more than 20 years in Albany, his commission wasn’t renewed and he returned home to Albion.

“Here I was in Albany in the center of the action, and now I’m floundering,” Nesbitt said.

So he threw himself into getting involved in his local community. He is on the Albion Alumni Foundation Board, the Cobblestone Credit Union board, chair of the Rural Opportunities Housing Board and has started a consulting business.

He said he had one simple message.

“Change is going to happen whether you like it or not,” he said. “Change is going on here right now. And change is good. It means we are not stagnant. And sometimes you need to be the person leading the change.”

Friday’s program also included short stories by several who shared how Community Action made a difference in their lives. They were Linsey Vallett, Beth Longhini, Melissa DeRose and David Dodge.

A plea was also issued for employee Edna Schramm, whose husband needs a stem cell transplant. All in attendance were urged to get tested to see if they might be a match.