March 29th, 2013

Fulton, NY ? United Way?s ?Stone Soup Too? Luncheon Returns to Pulaski. Lois Luber, resource development director with United Way of Greater Oswego County meets with Allen Manwaring of Al?s Big Hometown Corner Market the discuss the United Way?s Stone Soup Luncheon to be held Sunday, April 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the American Legion Post 358, 3350 Maple Ave, Pulaski. Al?s Big Hometown Corner Market will be donating dinner rolls for the event which will feature a variety of soups from area restaurants including: cream of mushroom from Eddy?s Place in Pulaski, and cream of broccoli from the American Legion, as well as soups from Rainbow Shores, River House Restaurant, and the Sandy Pond Steak House, salad, rolls, and dessert. The United Way will be accepting donations of $5 per person for the luncheon. All proceeds from the luncheon will be used to support area food pantries, including: the Pulaski Community Ministries Food Pantry; the Sandy Creek / Lacona Community Cupboard; Rural & Migrant Ministries? Food Pantry; and the North Country Christian Church Soup Kitchen. Attendees are also encouraged to please bring a donation of non-perishable food items. For more information on the United Way?s Stone Soup Luncheon contact your United Way office at 315-593-1900 or visit www.oswegounitedwayorg.

March 29th, 2013

Fulton, NY ? With the need for food subsidy increasing and food pantries throughout Oswego County being hard pressed to meet the growing demand, the United Way of Greater Oswego County is doing its part to raise awareness of the food shortage in Oswego County and encourage the community to help fill the shelves of our area food pantries.

United Way of Greater Oswego County has partnered with business and community leaders in the greater Pulaski / Sandy Creek to host its annual Stone Soup Luncheon on Sunday, April 28th from 11:30 am ? 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post 358, 3350 Maple Ave, Pulaski.

According to Resource Development Director for the United Way, Lois Luber, the mission of the Stone Soup luncheon is to create awareness of the need for food subsidy in Oswego County. ?This is our second Stone Soup Too luncheon in the Pulaski / Sandy Creek area. Thanks to the effort of our volunteers and committee members, and most importantly the strong support we receive from area businesses, we are able to once again combine good food and generous people for a good cause. The need for food in the northern part of our county is increasing rapidly. The proceeds from our Stone Soup Luncheon will go a long way to help fill the shelves of pantries in this area,? said Luber.

To date a number of caring local businesses have come forward to donate the food and beverages necessary for the Stone Soup Luncheon. American Legion Post 358, Eddy?s Place Restaurant, Rainbow Shores, River House Restaurant, and the Sandy Pond Steak House will provide the soups, with Al?s Corner Market, C?s Farm Market, Davis Bros., Nice n Easy Grocery Shoppes, North Country Christian Church, Sandy Creek Big M, and Tops Friendly Market providing the other food items.

The United Way?s ?Stone Soup? Luncheon is open to the public and will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28th at the American Legion Post 358, 3350 Maple Ave. in Pulaski. The United Way is accepting donations of $5 per person. All proceeds from the luncheon will be used to support area food pantries, including: the Pulaski Community Ministries Food Pantry; the Sandy Creek / Lacona Community Cupboard; Rural & Migrant Ministries? Food Pantry; and the North Country Christian Church Soup Kitchen. Attendees are also encouraged to please bring a donation of non-perishable food items.

?It is becoming especially challenging for our food pantries to meet the rising demand for food subsidy throughout Oswego County,? added Luber. ?The food collected, and the money raised at our ?Stone Soup? Luncheon will be greatly appreciated.?

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.

For more information contact your United Way office at 315-593-1900.

Cut line for photo: Committee members for the United Way?s ?Stone Soup? Luncheon in the greater Pulaski / Sandy Creek area meet to finalize details for the event. Scheduled for Sunday, April 28th, the luncheon will at held at 11:30 a.m. at the American Legion Post 358, 3350 Maple Ave, Pulaski. From left are: Delores Stevens of the North Country Christian Church Soup Kitchen; Selena Belser, with the Rural & Migrant Ministries of Os.Co. food pantry; Lois Luber, resource development director for the United Way of Greater Oswego County; and Joe Sabadish of the Pulaski American Legion Post 358. Absent from the photo is committee member Peggy Manchester of the Sandy Creek/Lacona Community Cupboard.

March 22nd, 2013

Fulton, NY ? Theresa Sugar Scanlon (l) and Laurie Sugar-Compson (not pictured) of the Sugar & Scanlon Funeral Home in Oswego and the Sugar Funeral Home in Fulton, shared lunch with their mother, Mary, at the United Way?s 5th Annual Stone Soup Luncheon held recently at Holy Trinity Church in Fulton. The funeral homes sponsored lunch for the residents of Fulton Mill Apartments and provided bus transportation for them to and from the event. The United Way Stone Soup Luncheon, a fundraiser to fight hunger in Oswego County, raised $1125 and collected several boxes of food for area food pantries.

March 21st, 2013

Fulton, NY ? Supporters of the United Way of Greater Oswego County filled Bishop?s Hall at Holy Trinity Church in Fulton as the community came together to enjoy a delicious meal of soup, salad, rolls and dessert at United Way?s ?Stone Soup Too? Luncheon. The annual event serves as a fundraiser for food pantries in Oswego County.

?Our Stone Soup Too Luncheon was a great success, we raised $1125 and collected several bins of food for our local food pantries. I want to thank the community members who attended, and our many caring sponsors who donated the food for our luncheon: Mimi?s, Blue Moon Grill, Tavern on the Lock, and The Foursome Diner for providing our soups; Dunkin? Donuts for the ?Boxes of Joe?; C?s Farms & Davis Bros. for our salad fixings; Hudson Dairy who provided bottled water; Red Baron who provided the rolls; Kathy?s Cakes, Joe?s Corner Market, Price Chopper, and Springside at Seneca Hill for donating our delicious desserts; and Struppler?s Shurfine Market for table arrangements featuring canned soups that were donated to the food pantries following the luncheon.

?I would also like to thank the Holy Trinity Church for hosting the event; the Fulton Lions Club for their donation of $500; the Fulton Sunrise Rotary for their donation of $100; the City of Fulton, Fulton YMCA, and Walmart Supercenter in Granby for hosting food drives; Sugar Funeral Home of Fulton and Sugar & Scanlon Funeral Home of Oswego for sponsoring rides and lunch for residents of Fulton Mill Apartments; and of course our hard working volunteers and committee members, who helped to make our ?Stone Soup Too? Luncheon a success,? said Lois Luber, resource development director for the United Way of Greater Oswego County.

All proceeds from the event, along with the food donations will be donated to food pantries throughout Oswego County.

Cut line for food donations photo: United Way of Greater Oswego County?s Stone Soup Too luncheon raised $1125 and collected several bins of food to fill the shelves of local food pantries and help them to meet the increasing demand for food subsidy in Oswego County. County and State Officials attended the luncheon to support United Way?s efforts to combat hunger in Oswego County. From left are: Oswego County Legislators, Jim Karasek, 22nd District and Terry Wilbur 21st, District; Jennifer Cook, representing Assemblyman Will Barclay; Roxanna Gillen, representing Oswego City Mayor, Tom Gillen; Meave Gillen representing Congressman Dan Maffei; and United Way Board President, Kathleen Fenlon.

March 21st, 2013

Cut line for PTK CCC Vols photo: Representatives from Phi Theta Kappa at Cayuga Community College, Fulton Campus were some of the many community volunteers who assisted with the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s Stone Soup Too Luncheon at Holy Trinity Church in Fulton. Held annually United Way?s Stone Soup Too Luncheon serves as a fundraiser for local food pantries. From left are: PTK Honor Society, Sue Witmer, director of operations, CCC Fulton Campus, and Vita Marie Racko, PTK advisor.

March 14th, 2013

Fulton, NY ? Melanie Trexler, executive director of the United Way of Greater Oswego County presented Barb Bateman, Senior Vice President and Oswego Market Executive at NBT Bank with the United Way Volunteer of Year Award at the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s Annual Meeting and Salute to Volunteers held March 13 at the American Foundry in Oswego.

A strong proponent of Oswego County, Bateman was recognized for her tireless volunteer efforts and unselfishly donating her time and talents to countless organizations and community projects. In addition to the volunteer work she has done on behalf of United Way, Bateman has served on boards for the American Red Cross of Central New York, Cayuga Community College, Oswego Hospital, and is a past president of the board for Friends of Oswego County Hospice. She was also a member of the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army of Oswego, where she played a vital role in the addition of their new kitchen facility; the recipient of the 2012 Community Leadership Award from SUNY Leadership Oswego County; and is the current Board President for the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

?Barb is the quintessential example of a what a volunteer is and the amazingly positive impact that an individual can have on its community,? said Executive Director of the United Way of Greater Oswego County, Melanie Trexler. ?She truly embodies the ideal qualities of volunteerism: passion, perseverance, and heart. Barb?s concern for others captures the essence of the theme for this year?s United Way campaign; It?s Our Community?and It?s Personal! I can think of no one more deserving of the 2013 United Way Volunteer of the Year than Barb Bateman.?

Cut line for photo: Barb Bateman, Senior Vice President and Oswego Market Executive at NBT Bank was the recipient of the Volunteer of Year Award at the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s Annual Meeting and Salute to Volunteers held March 13 at the American Foundry in Oswego. Bateman was recognized for her devotion and commitment to Oswego County and for her tireless efforts as a volunteer for countless organizations and community projects. From left are: United Way Board President, Kathy Fenlon, executive director of the Oswego City / County Youth Bureau; Barb Bateman; United Way Board Member, Jonathan Daniels, executive director, Port of Oswego Authority; and Melanie Trexler, executive director, United Way of Greater Oswego County.

March 14th, 2013

Fulton, NY – The United Way of Greater Oswego County presented Burritt Motors with the Small Business of the Year Award at the United Way?s Annual Meeting and Salute to Volunteers held March 13th at the American Foundry in Oswego.

?Burritt Motors has been a cherished partner for many years,? said Executive Director of the United Way of Greater Oswego County, Melanie Trexler. ?The concern they have shown for their neighbors throughout Oswego County with their support of United Way is remarkable. No matter what the cause: Stuff-A-Bus, the Annual Golf Classic, helping to sponsor our incentive program, or donating to our Community Fund, Burritt Motors has been there for United Way and more importantly, for those less fortunate families and individuals that we serve. Their love of United Way and the respect they have for our programs is commendable!?

From left are: United Way Board Member, Rob Rolfe of Pathfinder Bank (c) presents Rich Burritt (l) and Chris Burritt (r) with the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s Small Business of the Year Award.

March 14th, 2013

Fulton, NY ? Kathy Fenlon, executive director of the Oswego City / County Youth Bureau and John Ferry of Oswego County Department of Social Services were honored recently at the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s Annual Meeting and Salute to Volunteers held March 13 at the American Foundry in Oswego. The two were recognized for their roles as Company Campaign Coordinators for the Oswego County employees campaign in support of United Way of Greater Oswego County. Presented annually, the Company Campaign Coordinator of the Year Award is given to the coordinator whose dedication, enthusiasm, and creativity go above and beyond what is expected. The pair?s efforts resulted in an increase in both money raised and employee participation. From left are: President of the United Way Board of Directors, Kathy Fenlon, John Ferry, United Way Board Member, Doug McRae of Bond, Shoeneck & King, and Executive Director of the United Way of Greater Oswego County, Melanie Trexler.

Fulton, NY – The United Way of Greater Oswego County presented Fulton Savings Bank with the Company Campaign Team of the Year Award at the United Way?s Annual Meeting and Salute to Volunteers held March 13th at the American Foundry in Oswego. Presented annually, the Company Campaign Team of the Year Award is presented to volunteers whose extraordinary commitment, energy, enthusiasm, and creativity contributed to the success of their company?s campaign. ?The efforts of the Fulton Savings Bank team went above and beyond what is expected and generated an outstanding amount of contributions from the community minded employees at Fulton Savings Bank,? said Lois Luber, Resource Development Director for the United Way of Greater Oswego County. Above from left are: United Way Campaign Cabinet Member, Dick Delaney of Novelis; Fulton Savings Bank Company Campaign Coordinators, Sharyl Kelly, Debra Braden, and Nancy DeGilormo; and President of the United Way?s Board of Directors, Kathy Fenlon, Executive Director of the Oswego City / County Youth Bureau.

March 14th, 2013

Fulton, NY – The United Way of Greater Oswego County recently presented the Spirit of Community Award to the Oswego Elks Lodge #271. The award is presented annually to volunteers who care and want to make a difference in their community. The members of Oswego Elks Lodge #271 were recognized for unwavering commitment to their community and their generous support of the United Way?s Community Fund. From left are: United Way Board Member and Campaign Cabinet Member, Brian Finn of Entergy; Oswego Elks representatives, Helen Milam and John Palmear; and Executive Director of United Way of Greater Oswego County, Melanie Trexler.