UTICA, NY – A joyful mood of gratitude was evident at the Center for Family Life and Recovery (CFLR) holiday meal basket give-a-way. Staff and volunteers collected and packed meal baskets with care for families in need.
A successful multi-site food drive supplemented the baskets with a variety of canned and boxed holiday food items. Special gift cards were included in each basket so that individual families could exercise personal choice at the grocery store to shop for their preferred fresh food perishables, according to their family tastes and dietary needs.
Boxes and baskets were loaded into vehicles at three Mohawk Valley area basket distribution sites set up outside for a COVID-safe distribution. Site locations allowed for a distribution nearest to identified families in need. Some baskets were even hand-delivered to those that could not come out to the event or who did not have transportation.
“Every year staff and volunteers love seeing the smiles on the faces of our clients as they receive their holiday meal baskets,” Cassandra Sheets, CEO, shared, “it really is a very special tradition of our agency and one we greatly enjoy. This year we are especially thankful to brighten the holidays for 38 Mohawk Valley families.”
A special thank you to Officer Harrington and the Utica Police Department for their valuable assistance loading baskets the day of the event.
The CFLR team would like to thank all sponsoring partners of this year’s successful event. Partners include: BNY Mellon – the staff of BNY, Scalzo, Zogby, and Wittig Insurance, Police Benevolent Association of Utica, the Remsen and Rome Rotarians, Parkway Senior Center in Utica, Parkway Center in Verona, Hannaford’s supermarkets, PJ Green, Fit Body Bootcamp in Whitesboro, and the Holland Patent School District. Many other local organizations also participated in the huge food drive, which was wildly successful to help fill baskets this year – THANK YOU!
Food and donations collected locally for this project stays local. There are many ways to get involved with this special annual holiday giving opportunity. Visit https://www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com/thanksgiving to view giving opportunities for the 2022 year.
For more information on Center for Family Life and Recovery, please visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com, and the project page at https://www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com/thanksgiving/
Media inquiries can be directed to Cassandra Sheets, CEO. Office: 315-768-2645 Email: CSheets@cflrinc.org
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First of all, I love semi-retirement. Working since I was 15yrs, following in my mothers’ footsteps. My mother was a switchboard operator in Cornwall, Canada. When I started at 15 yrs., I was working at Massena Central High school during the summer as a switchboard operator. Going forward, working as a secretary, customer service, short order/prep cook, I was working at Hinsdale Hospital, Il. Then I transferred to Doctors’ Answering Service and worked the switchboard at the hospital. Was there for 11 years. Moved to North Carolina and worked in a sewing factory making rugs. I have a few rugs that I made, they are still holding up… lol I loved to travel, from Virginia to Hawaii and in between. Now my feet stay on the ground. When my fiancé was here, we did a lot of camping up north (Alex Bay) and down south (Finger Lakes). Now I am working at CFLR, (8yrs) I love my job. My boss, Cassandra and all my co-workers are wonderful to work with. Great experience. Last of all, stay positive and smile.
Ginamarie Pizza is a 4th year student at Utica College, double majoring in both nursing and health studies with a minor in human rights advocacy. She hopes to work in public health and become a sexual assault nurse examiner (S.A.N.E.). She is a New Jersey native from a large family with four siblings, one dog, one turtle, and the newest addition a Pac Man frog. In her free time, she enjoys athletics, competing on her college’s lacrosse team, as well as making art of all sorts. She has been a part of the CFLR team for 2 months and is excited to continue. She is passionate about social justice and grateful to be part of such an incredible organization.
Hello, my name is Dominica Liscio. I am originally from Herkimer, NY. I have been the Office Coordinator here at CFLR for about 8 months and absolutely love it! CFLR is such a great place to work, we are like a big family. I was supposed to get married in September but due to Covid we unfortunately had to postpone. We however, are trying to make light of this crazy time. I love spending time with my fiancé, my friends and my little, long haired Chihuahua.
