1. family and parenting
2. children

GOMOC NEWS
Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern
“Agency of Last Resort”
Assist… Enhance… Empower...
Winter 2014
Agency Board of Directors
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern operates under the governance of a Board of
Directors, without whose volunteer service this agency would not exist. These volunteers give tirelessly to support the
Ministry of Concern in its efforts to help the neediest of residents in Genesee & Orleans Counties. We want to recognize these
individuals for their commitment to the work GOMOC does.
Board Members include: Deborah Schmitt (President), Jane Balbick (Vice President), Judy Boyle (Secretary), Mary Grace
Demarse (Treasurer), Sister Marian Adrian, G.N.S.H., Sister Dolores O’Dowd, G.N.S.H., Karen Kinter, Henry Moscicki,
Samuel Barone and Louise Wu. The leadership and support of these dedicated volunteers ensures our programs and services
continue.
These programs include:
Emergency Services: providing personal care items, assisting with prescription medication coverage, helping with
payments on certain utility bills. We also offer very limited assistance with emergency shelter.
 Furniture: we accept donations of gently used furniture and working appliances and distribute these items to needy
individuals and families.
 Just Friends: the program matches adult role modes (mentors) to children ages 5 and over who are in need of a male or
female role model. Group events and family advocacy are also offered.
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So we THANK the board and all our volunteers for making this organization what it is today. And we ask that you please
continue to support the great work the Ministry of Concern is committed to carrying out!
GOMOC Receives Three Grants to Help Provide Services to the Less Fortunate
The Ministry of Concern recently received three grants that will help us to assist needy families and individuals
in Genesee and Orleans counties.
In August we were awarded a one-year $5,000 Community Health Grant by the Rochester Community Health
Foundation. This grant, available to qualifying low income individuals and families, will be used to help with copays for prescription medications and prescription eye
wear for school-aged children.
Again this year we were successful in receiving two
grants to support our Furniture Program. The East Hill
Foundation is providing us with a grant of $5,000 to be
used for the operating costs of this program including
fuel, insurance and maintenance for our truck. For the
third year in a row we received beds from the 50 Beds in
50 Days program from Metro Mattress. This year’s
award was for five twin bed sets that we immediately
delivered to families with children in need of them.
We sincerely thank these organizations for their
generosity and caring to help us help those in need in our
community.
Beds donated by Metro Mattress are loaded into our furniture truck.
Winter 2014
GOMOC NEWS
Page 2
Just Friends Update
by Jacki Mowers-Sciarabba
I want to extend a “thank you” to all who have helped me with Just Friends events. Without your assistance,
the Ice Cream Socials would not have been as successful as they were. Thanks go out to:
Volunteers: Mary Hartman, Charity Villalobos, Jean Shervin, Mary
Grace Demarse, Wayne Litchfield, Nicole Bellnier, Mr. and Mrs.
Langdon, Tom at the First Free Methodist Church and Shane Mowers.
Donors: Rockin’ R Ranch,
Burger King - Albion, Tim
Horton’s, Salisby’s Double Dips,
Save-a-Lot - Albion and Batavia,
Tops - Albion, Albion Free Methodist Church, YWCA - Batavia, Sister
Marian Adrian, Mary Grace Demarse and Sam Barone.
Fall was an exciting time for the Just Friends Program. The Orleans
Fall event was held at Brown’s Berry Patch and we all had a wonderful
time. The turnout of mentees, mentors, volunteers and parents was
AWESOME!!! Thank you to all who came and helped throughout the
day. I especially want to thank “Miss Nicole” Bellnier for organizing
our event at Brown’s Berry Patch. Her expertise and knowledge of
Brown’s made the day run smoothly and we were able to enjoy all that
Brown’s Berry Patch has to offer.
Our new Mentors came and enjoyed the day as well. Because of
spending the day together and getting to know each other, matches
between adult mentors and child mentees were made possible. Thank you to all who attended the Orleans Fall
event.
The Fall event at the Batavia YWCA was a lot of fun for all
who attended! I want to thank everyone for the help setting up,
cleaning up and sharing in all the things offered—crafts, Nerf wars,
food and drink. I appreciate
the mentors, volunteers and
parents who stayed to enjoy
the afternoon with us. The
children created wonderful
crafts and enjoyed the
challenge of “bobbing for
apples.”
Winter 2014
GOMOC NEWS
Page 3
The Genesee/Orleans Ministry of Concern Presents
“ One Night Only at Leonard Oakes Winery”
SCHMITT
HAPPENS
At the Holidays
Featuring the Twin Keyboard Sounds & Vocal Stylings of
“Back to Back”
Jim & Debbie Schmitt
A musical look back at the holidays
featuring familiar Christmas favorites
and original music by Jim and Debbie
Thursday, December 18, 2014 – 7:00 p.m.
Leonard Oakes Estate Winery
10609 Ridge Road, Medina, NY
Tickets: $20 per person — includes hors d’oeurves
and a special basket raffle
Limited Seating - for tickets call (585) 589-9210
Winter 2014
GOMOC NEWS
Page 4
Help for the “Working Poor”
Many of the people we assist at the Ministry of Concern are employed. They often work less than full-time hours
for low wages and many times are trying to support a family with this income. A supplement to the household
income such as food stamps can help a lot, but money can still be tight. Any extra expense such as a car repair or
increase in heating bills can create an emergency situation. The loss of a job can be devastating.
The following are a few examples of assistance that we recently provided to “working poor” families in Genesee
County.
 Transportation Help: “L” came to our office in need of a gasoline voucher to take her child to an appointment
with a specialist in Buffalo. This appointment was in regard to a new, potentially serious condition that the
child had been treated for at the emergency room the day before. “L’s” part-time job and food stamps were the
only sources of income for her family. This appointment, and the need for gasoline to get there, came up
unexpectedly and “L” wasn’t prepared for it. We were able to provide a gasoline voucher for her to take her
child to the appointment, thus alleviating some of her anxiety over the situation. “L” was very grateful and has
not needed to come back for additional assistance.
 Keeping the Lights On: When “E” first contacted our office she was employed part-time as a delivery person
for a local business. Her wages and food stamps were not quite enough to cover the household expenses for her
and her children all of the time. She was behind one month on her electric bill payment and had received a
disconnect notice. We were able to cover the small amount needed to keep her service from being shut off. “E”
called our office again two days later and told us that she was let go from her job the day before because her
position had been eliminated due to a lack of delivery requests. “E” had applied for unemployment and was
already searching for another job. She knew that it would be awhile until she received any income and asked if
we could assist her with personal care items. We told her to come to the office, at which time we were able to
provide her with most of the items that she needed. “E” knows that she can call us again during this difficult
time. If we cannot assist her we will try to refer her to a place that can.
 Helping with a Gas Bill: “P” came to us for assistance with her natural gas bill. She had recently been laid off
from a temporary job and had obtained other employment. During the brief period during which she had no
income “P” got behind on her gas bill. She paid a portion of the amount needed to prevent termination of
service and we covered the remaining balance. When we told “P” that we had called in our payment she
expressed great relief. With her new job she should be able to cover her expenses once again.
These are just a few examples of what we can, and do, accomplish with the generous support of our donors.
These donations allow us to assist the “working poor” with utility payments, prescriptions, personal care items and
gas vouchers and help to keep our offices staffed with the personnel who patiently listen, gather information and
provide the assistance needed.
Many thanks to all of you who contribute to make our mission possible.
Liz Reeson, Senior Advocate
Holiday Boxes for our Troops
Recently Community Action of Orleans and Genesee requested items for their “Treats for
Troops” project to pack in boxes to send to the U.S. military troops stationed overseas. They
asked for donations of personal care, food and activity items. Due to many generous
donations received by GOMOC we had an abundance of sample- and travel-sized shampoos,
conditioners, soaps and body lotions. Many of our clients are in need of personal care items in larger quantities than
what is in the smaller sized containers, so we do not give out the smaller items as often. When we learned there was
a need for personal care items for our troops, we decided to donate to this cause. The U.S. military personnel are in
great need of the exact items we had an abundance of and the smaller size was what was needed! GOMOC donated
a full box of various shampoos, conditioners, body lotions and soaps to be sent to the troops stationed overseas.
Winter 2014
GOMOC NEWS
Page 5
Personal Care Items
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Soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste/brushes, razors/shaving cream
Feminine hygiene supplies
Diapers and baby supplies
Toilet paper, tissues and paper towels
Laundry soap, dish soap and household cleaning supplies
These items can be dropped off at one of our offices:
Albion office: Monday thru Friday - 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Batavia office: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday - 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Basic Furniture and Appliances
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Beds — any size, especially children’s beds
Dressers
Living room furniture — couches, chairs, coffee and end tables, and lamps
Kitchen and dining room tables and chairs
Refrigerators, microwave and electric stoves,
Washers and electric dryers
(Sorry, we do not accept gas stoves and dryers, household items, TVs
and other electronics.)
Call the Albion office at 585-589-9210 to schedule a pick up by our
friendly furniture crew.
Many Ways to Donate to GOMOC
Did you know there are many alternative and simple ways you can donate to
GOMOC? Here are a few suggestions:
 Do you work for a company that matches your charitable donations to nonprofit organizations? If so, you can request your company to make a matching
gift to GOMOC. Check with your human resources department about how to
do this.

Shop and search on-line using GoodSearch and GoodShop at:
www.goodsearch.com

Do you buy from Amazon? Start your shopping at smile.amazon.com and
select Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern for your charity. 0.5% of your
purchase price (every little bit helps!!) will be donated to us by the
AmazonSmile Foundation.
Donations can be
made by PayPal
GOMOC can receive your
donation electronically
through PayPal.
If you don’t have a PayPal
account, go to our website
at:
www.ministryofconcern.or
g and click on the Make A
Donation button.
Winter 2014
GOMOC NEWS
Page 6
Buffalo Bills Basket Raffle a Success
Our first ever Buffalo Bills Basket Raffle drawing was held at the GOMOC
Board of Directors annual dinner on September 11. The winner was Donna
Groff of Hamlin, NY. Donna is pictured here receiving the basket of
merchandise with one of her two sons, both of whom are avid Buffalo Bills
fans and were elated that Mom won the prize!
The basket was loaded with Bills memorabilia including a football
autographed by the 1995 team, a jacket and baseball cap and tailgate party
supplies, but best of all were two tickets on the 50-year line to the November 9
game against the Kansas City Chiefs (unfortunately the Bills lost 17-13).
We are grateful to Mary Grace Demarse and to Lisa and Chuck Mosey of
eSports Fundraising who donated most of the prizes. Also, thank you to
everyone who helped sell tickets and bought
them. The net proceeds from the raffle of over
$1,700 will help us to continue to provide
services to needy families and individuals in
Genesee and Orleans counties.
GO BILLS!
Changes in the GOMOC Board of Directors
At recent meetings of the GOMOC Board of Directors several changes were made in
the leadership. Mary Grace Demarse was elected as the treasurer replacing Sister
Dolores O’Dowd and Judy Boyle was elected as secretary replacing Joan Buell. Debbie
Schmitt and Jane Balbick remain in their positions as president and vice president,
respectively. Sister Dolores will be staying on as a board member. Joan Buell has left
the Board and we extend our heart-felt thanks for several years of service to the Board
and also as a mentor for two young girls in our Just Friends program.
We welcome Louise Wu as the newest member of the Board. Louise is active in
several local organizations and is married to Lee Richards, the pastor of the Pullman
Memorial Universalist Church in Albion.
Gifts Received
in Memory of
John Balbick
by
Gerald Williams
Holly Robinson
Grazioplene
by
Diana Dudley
The Staff and Board of Directors
of Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern
wish a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
to all of our donors, volunteers and their families.
Joette Haines
by
Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Blackburn
Winter 2014
GOMOC NEWS
Page 7
DONORS
We are most grateful for donations to the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern. The following community organizations, churches, businesses
and individuals made contributions between August 13 and October 31, 2014. Thank you for your generosity and support of our programs!
Ms. Susan Eddy
Ms. Sandra Lewandowski
Mrs. Mary Roth
Mrs. Sandra Moss Adams
Mr. Larry Fallon
Sr. Rita Lewandowski, G.N.S.H.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Rudzinski
Dr. and Mrs. Nagui Adeeb
Mr. Bruce Fauth
Mrs. Helen Habermehl Liebler
Mr. Michael Ryan
Sr. Marian Adrian, G.N.S.H.
Ms. Barbara Filipiak
Mr. John Limina
Ms. Elizabeth Saleh
Mr. and Mrs. John Adriance
First Unitarian Church - Rochester
Mrs. Margaret Linder
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Sargent
Ms. Barbara Anderson
First United Methodist Church - Albion
Mrs. Mary Ellen Burger Loncto
Mrs. Jean Bailey
Mrs. Deborah Schmitt
Mr. and Mrs. George Follett
Mr. and Mrs. John Long
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Balbick
Dr. Eileen Schmitt
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Fox
Mrs. Marsha MacConnell
Ronnie Barhite
Mr. and Mrs. David Funston
Mrs. Judith Christopher Schorb
Ms. Patricia Marion
Ms. Gabrielle Barone
Mr.and Mrs. Carl Galante
Mr. and Mrs. David Schreck
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Mark
Mr. and Mrs. Terrance Shearin
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Galbreath
Genesee County Retired Educators
Ms. Margaret Barry
Assoc
Mrs. Eleanor Mikos Bartholomew Genesee Valley Assoc of the United
Church of Christ
Ms. Rosemary Baszczynski
Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Genter
Mrs. Ann Bossert Bateman
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Barone
Mr. and Mrs. David Bellucci
Mr. and Mrs. William Benson
Ms. Terri Berl
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Golden
Ms. Barbara Gorham
Mrs. Frances Grabowski
Greater Rochester Health Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bindeman Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart D'Youville College
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bisantz
Ms. Jeanie Maxwell
Mr. and Mrs. Gary May
Mr. Pat McCormick
Ms. Eileen McElwain
Mr. and Mrs. Robert McGowan
Mrs. Suzanne Erlenbach McInerney
Metro Mattress Corporation
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Metz
Mrs. Louise Misiti
Mrs. Jean Shervin
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Skarzynski
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Slack
Mr. Daniel Smith
Mrs. Diane Kirchgraber Smith
Ms. Mary Smith
Mr. and Mrs. William Snyder
Mrs. Franca Sparacio
Mrs. Margaret Bodekor
Ms. Donna Haight
Mr. Natale Mollica
Ms. Joy Bohnet
Mrs. Ann Hamilton
Mr. Wesley Springs
St. Gregory the Great Parish Williamsville - Ladies of Charity
Mr. Philbert Monacelli
Mrs. Joan Bower
Ms. Dorothy Hanlon
St. John the Baptist Church - Alden
Mrs. Karen Korzelius Braun
Mr. Fritz Hart
Ms. Cathy Monachino
St. John's Episcopal Church - Medina
Mrs. Nancy Garry Brucklier
Ms. Charlene Haykel
Morganville United Church of Christ
Ms. Denise Steffen
Ms. Lisa Campbell
Mr. Pete Head
Mr. and Mrs. David Carmichael
Mrs. Ann Giardina Hess
Ms. Betsy Cattadoris
Ms. Pam Cherry
Mr. Michael Chervenic
Deacon James Collichio
Mr. David Cook
Ms. Kathryn Cosgrove
Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Cummings
Mrs. Janice Cummings
Mrs. Joanne Hess
Ms. Pamela Misiti
Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Mosey
Mr. Shane Mowers
Mrs. Patricia Mazur Murphy
Mr. John Steffen
Mrs. Virginia Steinbrenner
Ms. Georgette Stockman
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hirons
Shirley Narburgh
Northgate Free Methodist Church Batavia
Ms. Lori Hollinger
Sr. Dolores O'Dowd, G.N.S.H.
Mrs. Florence Surdi
Ms. Nicole Horn
Mr. Derrick Oosterling
Ms. Tracy Sutherland
Ms. Ann Huber
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ortolano
Mr. and Mrs. Norm Isler
Dr. Gina Teresi
Mr. and Mrs. Graydon Owen
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Janson
Ms. Kathleen Turner
Mr. and Mrs. Felix Padula
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jessmer
United Way of Orleans County
Ms. Corinne Pahura
Ms. Mary Hicks
Cylinder Services, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Rick Jones
Ms. Nancy Palermo
Mrs. Donna Dagobert
JP Morgan Chase Foundation Matching
Ms. Kim Parsels
Gift & Volunteer Programs
Mr. and Mrs. James Dammeyer
Ms. Renee Paser-Paull
Ms. Diane Kamens
Ms. Linda Davis
Ms. Patricia Payne
Mrs. Janice Moss Kapps
Mrs. Mary Grace Poorten
Demarse
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Penman
Ms. Jean Karls
Ms. Marilyn Streit
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sullivan
Mr. and Mrs. George VanNest
VFW Lincoln Post 1483 - Medina
Ms. Chanty Villalobos
Dr. Lawrence E. Volland
Mr. James Wallin
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walter
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dexter
Mrs. Karen Ryan Keane
Mr. Joe Perzia
Mr. Dennis DiGenvoa
Mrs. Geraldine Mroszczak Keech
Mrs. Eulalia Pinkowski
Ms. Prudence DiPiazza
Ms. Terri Keeler
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pohlman
Ms. Norma Dolan
Mr. Alfred Keldorf
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Post
Mr. Peter Weaver
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Drnevich Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Kinter
Ms. Lois Klatt
Ms. Diana Dudley
Knights of Columbus Council #11728 Mr. and Mrs. James Duncan
Batavia
East Hill Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kozody
Ms. Katie Reid
Ms. Kathy Weber
Mr. and Mrs. John Riccardi
Mr. Gerald Williams
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ridler
Ms. Mary Ann Wilson
Ms. Carol Riniolo
Ms. Phyllis Wilson
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Ebbs
Mrs. Virginia Kropf
Mrs. Beverly Roe
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Yunker
The Honorable John J. LaFalce
Ms. Lorraine Root
Mr. and Mrs. Erich Zagskorn
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Eddy
Ms. Bonnie Waters
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Watson
GENESEE-ORLEANS
MINISTRY OF CONCERN, INC.
“Agency of Last Resort”
NON PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Albion, NY
Permit # 143
121 North Main Street
Suite 311
Albion, New York 14411
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Honorable John J. LaFalce ………………………. Honorary Director
Deborah Schmitt …..…………...………….………...….…. President
Jane Balbick ………………..…………….….…..…... Vice President
Judy Boyle …………...…...………..……………….…......... Secretary
Mary Grace Demarse ……....……….…….……….………..Treasurer
Marian M. Adrian, G.N.S.H.
Samuel Barone
Karen Kinter
Henry Moscicki
Dolores O’Dowd, G.N.S.H.
Louise Wu
STAFF
Scott Taylor …………………………………………Executive Director
Jeffrey Post …………………………………………...Finance Director
Elizabeth Reeson……….……….….……..………...Senior Advocate
Jacki Mowers-Sciarabba……………………………………Advocate /
Just Friends Program Coordinator
Travis Crowley……………………………………..Furniture Program
David Tetrault ……………………………………..Furniture Program
CONTACT US
Orleans County Office……………...……………...….(585) 589-9210
FAX…………………………………………….……..... (585) 589-9617
Genesee County Office……………….……..........….(585) 343-5452
FAX………………………………………….……..…....(585) 343-5503
e-mail: [email protected]
www.ministryofconcern.org
The Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern provides
emergency services for the economically poor and
assists and encourages members of the impoverished
community to become independent, self-sufficient
contributing members of society.
GO GREEN!
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 Saves trees and other resources.
 Reduces our printing and mailing costs and makes more
funds available for providing emergency needs.
 Reduces our waste stream.
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