October 29th, 2012

Oswego, NY ? Committee Members for the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s 7th Annual Stone Soup Luncheon welcome C?s Farms and Canale?s Restaurant as food sponsors for the luncheon. C?s Farms, who is providing the salad fixings and Canale?s Restaurant, which is providing one of the many soups, have supported the United Way Stone Soup Luncheon since its inception. This year?s Stone Soup Luncheon will be held Thursday, November 15th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in St. Joseph?s Parish Center, West First Street in Oswego. The United Way will be accepting a donation of $5.00 per person and those attending are urged to bring a donation of non-perishable food items. All proceeds from the event, as well as the food that is collected, will be donated to local food pantries. Above from left are: Joe Farella of C?s Farms; Stone Soup Committee Member, Helen Hoefer, Supervisor of Community Services at Catholic Charities of Oswego County; Nick Canale Jr. of Canale?s Restaurant; and Resource Development Director for the United Way of Greater Oswego County, Lois Luber. Absent from the photo are the owners of C?s Farms, Maria and Dave Johnson.

October 25th, 2012

Oswego, NY ? Oswego Lions Club Supports United Way. Representatives from the Oswego Lions Club present Lois Luber, resource development director with the United Way of Greater Oswego County and Lions Club member, with a check for $500 in support of United Way?s 7th Annual Stone Soup Luncheon. ?We are proud to count the Oswego Lions Club among our sponsors for this year?s Stone Soup Luncheon. Over the years they have donated $3,500 to help our area food pantries,? said Luber. Scheduled for Thursday, November 15th the luncheon will at held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in St. Joseph?s Parish Center, West First Street in Oswego. All proceeds from the event, as well as the food that is collected, will be donated to local food pantries. From left are: Denise Constanza, Becky O?Kane, Lois Luber, Beverly Spuhler, Bob Bateman, Karen Hammond, Chip Pelton. Bateman, owner of Cakes Galore in Oswego, is also donating a decorated cake for the Stone Soup Luncheon.

October 19th, 2012

Oswego, NY ? The United Way of Greater Oswego County will host its 7th Annual Stone Soup Luncheon on Thursday, November 15th at St. Joseph?s Parish Center on West 1st Street in Oswego. The United Way invites community members to come together to enjoy a luncheon that will aid local food pantries. Food pantries throughout Oswego County are finding it hard to keep their shelves filled and this holiday season will prove to be especially challenging as they struggle to meet the increased demand for food subsidy in Oswego County.

According to Lois Luber, resource development director for United Way of Greater Oswego County, this year?s Stone Soup Luncheon is receiving strong support. ?With the number of restaurants and business that have joined us as sponsors, this year?s Stone Soup Luncheon will feature the largest selection of soups we?ve ever had,? said Luber. ?Canale?s Restaurant, Vona?s Restaurant, Oswego Country Club, GS Steamers, Bridie Manor and Ruby Tuesday are providing our soups; C? Farms and Davis Brothers the salad fixings; and Bosco & Geers, fresh baked rolls. Additionally, there will be coffee courtesy of Dunkin? Donuts, and desserts from Cakes Galore and the American Foundry.?

?As we heard so often regarding this year?s campaign, it?s our community and it?s personal. It?s a mantra that our sponsors and our host for the Stone Soup Luncheon clearly believe in,? added Luber.

The United Way Stone Soup Luncheon is open to the public and will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, November 15th at St. Joseph?s Parish Center, West First Street in Oswego. The United Way will be accepting a donation of $5.00 per person and those attending are urged to bring a donation of non-perishable food items. All proceeds from the event, as well as the food that is collected, will be donated to local food pantries including; Human Concerns Center, Catholic Charities of Oswego County, Salvation Army of Oswego County Those unable to attend the luncheon but would like to donate food items may contact Helen Hoefer, supervisor of Catholic Charities of Oswego County?s Emergency Services program at 315-598-3980 for information on where to drop off non-perishable food donations throughout Oswego County.

Cut line for photo: Committee members and sponsors for the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s 7th Annual Stone Soup Luncheon meet at St. Joseph?s Parish Center in Oswego to finalize plans for this year?s event. Scheduled for Thursday, November 15th the luncheon will at held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in St. Joseph?s Parish Center, West First Street in Oswego. All proceeds from the event, as well as the food that is collected, will be donated to local food pantries. From left are: Lois Luber, resource development director for the United Way; volunteer, Jackie Thorpe, of the Greater Oswego / Fulton Chamber of Commerce; Committee Chair, Aaron Thorpe of 24 Hr. Record & Retrieval; Reverend Greg Kreinheder, pastor St. Joseph?s and St. Steven?s Parish; Shawn Seale, of Key Bank; and luncheon sponsors Theresa Himes, of Bosco & Geers; and Chris Carpenter of the Oswego Country Club.

October 17th, 2012

Oswego, NY ? Representatives from a number of Oswego County?s human services agencies will host an Oswego County Youth Program Forum on Monday, November 5th at SUNY Oswego Phoenix Extension Site. Sign-in begins at 8:30 a.m. with the program starting promptly at 9:00 a.m.

Open to anyone interested in learning about the many services and programs that are available to youth in Oswego County, the Youth Program Forum will provide youth service providers with an opportunity to share information on their programs while learning about other youth programs that exist in Oswego County. ?The Youth Forum is an excellent example of our human services agencies working together to help achieve a common good?helping our youth and their families. This kind of collaboration truly demonstrates the Live United concept that we are all connected,? said Executive Director of the United Way of Greater Oswego County, Melanie Trexler.

Director of the Oswego City-County Youth Bureau, Kathy Fenlon, chair of the event?s planning committee, explained that the format of the forum will allow for participants to select from a series of workshops where agency representatives will present a synopsis of their program. The different workshops will touch on a number of the youth services that are available. Additionally, there will be an information area where attendees may learn more about many of the other youth services offered in Oswego County.

?This is a wonderful opportunity for youth agencies to come together and discuss the different services they offer to youth and families in Oswego County. Participants will have the chance to network and ask questions,? added Ms. Fenlon

For more information on the Oswego County Youth Program Forum you may contact Melanie Trexler at the United Way of Greater Oswego County 593-1900 ext.201 or at melanieunitedway@windstream.net.

Cut line for photo: Members of the planning committee for Oswego County Youth Program Forum meet to finalize details for the event. Scheduled for Monday, November 5th, the informative program will highlight the many services and programs that are available to youth in Oswego County. From left are: Silvia Langdon of Oswego County DSS; Gloria Weeks of OCO; Melanie Trexler, Executive Director, United Way of Greater Oswego County; and Kathleen Fenlon, Executive Director of the Oswego City / County Youth Bureau. Absent from the photo are committee members, Gail Cooper, Catholic Charities of Oswego County; David Canfield, director, Youth Advocate Program of Oswego County; Christine Weaver, Oswego County Workforce Development; Karen Meyer, Oswego County DSS; and Kelli Otis, Oswego County Probation Dept.

October 15th, 2012

Oswego, NY ? United Way thanks all the participants for taking part to make this event successful. VEGA, the junior and senior women?s national honor society at SUNY Oswego, coordinates the yearly walk, sponsored by SUNY Oswego Auxiliary Services. The walk is a 3.1-mile loop on the SUNY Oswego campus. Over $800 was raised. All proceeds go to the United Way of Greater Oswego County. This is one of many SUNY Oswego/SEFA fundraisers for United Way of Greater Oswego County.

Pictured are members of VEGA and their advisor Professor Laura Brown.

October 12th, 2012

Oswego, NY – Employees at Novelis Oswego Works will kick-off their annual campaign for the United Way with a Chicken BBQ, Saturday, October 20th from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Lighthouse Lanes on Shampine Drive in Oswego.
?Our United Way team is eager to get our campaign underway. Last year?s campaign was a record year for us. Our goal is to surpass last year?s total and provide even more support the United Way because it is our community and it is personal,? said Dick Delaney, coordinator for the Novelis employee United Way campaign. Complete chicken dinners will be available for only $8.00.
Above from left are: Lois Luber, resource development director for United Way of Greater Oswego County, United Way Board Member, Dick Delaney and Lee Germain, both of Novelis.

October 8th, 2012

Fulton, NY ? Regional President of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Dr. Arthur Vercillo presents Melanie Trexler (c), executive director, and Lois Luber (r), resource development director for United Way of Greater Oswego County, with a check for $3,500 for the United Way 2012-2013 annual campaign. ?Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is pleased to be a $3,500 Leadership Giver / Admiral Society sponsor of the United Way of Greater Oswego County’s 2012 / 2013 Community Fund Campaign,? said Dr. Vercillo.

October 3rd, 2012

Fulton, NY ? Staff of the Oswego County Department of Social Services (DSS) recently held a book, music and video sale to benefit United Way of Greater Oswego County. Held annually book sale is one of two benefits that DSS staff to augment their donations to United Way.

?We received great support for the event, especially from Denise Bowering, Jill Wood, Jenn Delmar, & Annette Perry who helped coordinate the book sale,? said John Ferry of DSS. ?There were plenty of donations, the employees enjoyed it, and it was a great way to raise some additional dollars other than the annual pledge drive. We realize that now more than ever county residents are depending on United Way funded programs to help them in their daily lives. We also realize these programs help us to better serve our customers and without them we couldn’t do our jobs as effectively.?

Working through 23 local partner agencies, United Way of Greater Oswego County supports 35 programs in five areas of service: emergency services, children and family services, health and special needs, senior services, and youth development. For more information on your United Way, contact their office at 315-593-1900.

Cut line for photo: Lois Luber (second from right), resource development director for the United Way of Greater Oswego County couldn?t believe her eyes when Employees from Oswego County Department of Social Services presented her with the proceeds from their annual employee book sale. The event raised $175 in support of United Way?s Annual Campaign. From left are: Jill Wood and Jenn Delmar of DSS, Lois Luber, and John Ferry of DSS. Absent from the photo are DSS employees, Denise Bowering and Annette Perry.