Community Centered Works

Dairy Advocacy

2010-05-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

I grew up less than a mile from a dairy farm where the cows happily meandered about the green pastures of their home until the snow fell and the temperatures dropped. I remember tasting the difference in the milk when the cows were being fed hay and silage and corn and noticing the change again in the spring when they returned to pasture.

Years later I became saddened by the lack of farmers continuing to allow there cows to graze in the green fields under the open sky, instead choosing to confine them to an indoor arena of dirt or, worse, cement. I was told indignantly when I questioned a friend about this practice that it was much healthier for the cows and the milk they produced. “They can get into all sorts of weeds and things out in the field!” she declared. Oh yes, much better to give them antibiotics to kill the bacterial infections from being crowded together and fed corn!

There has been a huge growth in the demand for organic dairy as people became aware of the addition of growth hormones to increase milk production and antibiotics to allow more cows to be raised in less space. Then there are people like myself who gave up meats and dairy because I believe animals should be treated humanely, not like machines producing a product.

The latest controversy is that much milk that claims to be organic is not from cows out grazing under blue skies in green fields as depicted in many advertisements for organic dairy products (Horizon, Aurora, etc.) The dairies that are being questioned say it is because the regulations are vague. They are correct.

“The New York Times recently noted that "organic milk" essentially means "it comes from a cow whose milk production was not prompted by an artificial growth hormone, whose feed was not grown with pesticides and which had 'access to pasture,' a term so vague it could mean that a cow might spend most of its milk-producing life confined to a feed lot eating grain and not grass."”

If you are concerned about the organic quality of your dairy products, talk to the suppliers of MHFC to see if they meet your standards, but please also advocate for the rest of the country who may not have access to cow-friendly farms.

To learn more go to http://www.organicconsumers.org/ or http://www.consumeraffairs.com

Thank you for helping make our world a more peaceful and loving place.

1
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/05/organic_milk.html#ixzz0esPFStGH

Help from the Heart Delivered

2010-02-01T12:18:00.001-08:00

Photo Caption: Charlotte Albertin and Bennington, Vermont’s relief organizer Michelle Van Ness, stand with the second load of food,water and medical supplies ready for the sea crate and plane to Haiti.

Help From the Heart for Haiti

The community opened its hearts when 13-year-old Charlotte Albertin asked what we could do to help Haiti. Miss Albertin’s mother, Lisa Albertin researched area fundraisers and found the Bennington, VT based Haiti Relief Supply Drive that was collecting items for Evangelistic World Outreach, which has been working in Haiti since 1972.

The Albertin’s posted a request for food and medical supplies at Community Physical Therapy and Wellness where Mrs. Albertin works and the response was immediate. Patients, members and staff brought food and medical supplies as specified in Miss Albertin’s flyer about the relief organization.

Matthew Goodemote, owner of Community Physical Therapy and Wellness in Gloversville, donated five hundred dollars for medical supplies and his staff purchased them from Palmer’s Pharmacy in Johnstown. Robert Sullivan, pharmacist at Palmer’s, matched the five hundred dollar purchase, all of which were donated at the wholesale cost.

Members of Community Physical Therapy and Wellness have been donating their medical hardware (crutches, neck braces, etc.) to Community Centered Works, the non-profit organization founded by Mr. Goodemote. These were donated to the Haiti relief drive as well.

AirNow has donated an airplane for 45 days to deliver the supplies to Evangelistic World Outreach in Haiti. The Albertin’s delivered the goods collected to the William Morris state Airport in Bennington, VT on Sunday, January 31^st, as pictures above.

Help From the Heart

2010-01-29T06:44:00.000-08:00

My name is Charlotte Albertin and I am helping the below organization to get supplies to Haiti. I learned about the earthquake in my Spanish class. My teacher told us that they need as much help as possible. I went home and told my mom about the tragedy. She said, “We can find a way to help.” And hopefully, this will inspire you to help as well.

HAITI RELIEF SUPPLY DRIVE – Bennington, VT - through FEB 2
AirNow is donating an airplane and a pilot for 45 days to Evangelistic World Outreach, an organization on the ground in Haiti with an established network delivering urgently needed relief. They are filling the airplane with needed supplies for the initial trip south and will be accepting donations. Following the initial delivery flight the AirNow aircraft will remain in service to the relief efforts either US to and from Haiti or within Haiti.
They need the following items:
Medical Supplies:
Triple Antibiotic Ointment
Large Wound Bandages
Anti-diarrheal Medicine
Medical Tape for the Bandages
Food: (Non Perishable)
Bagged Rice (No boil in bag), Oatmeal.
Canned Items.
Construction Supplies and Tools
If you would like to make a monetary donation cash or check please make checks out to C.C.W. and we will in turn by the above supplies for you.
All donations must be delivered to AirNow no later then Feb 2, 2010 to make the sea container delivery. Please bring your donations to Community Physical Therapy & Wellness,5th Ave Ext. Gloversville. Behind CVS next to FIT Happens. by this Saturday January 30th by 4:00. We will be delivering the collected items to William Morris State Airport, Bennington, VT on Sunday January 31st.

Sidewalks

2009-10-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

Gloversville sidewalks repaired in October 2009

Once our prolific community gardens were cleaned up and readied for next years planting, we began the long anticipated sidewalks project. Andy Stokes of Callahan Industries, parent company of Gloversville's Clemente-Latham Cement company, donated 4 yards of cement. Kingsboro Lumber provided lumber and accessories while Jason Munn and Alvin Hitchens did the actual work of tearing up and laying down the sidewalks. Maple Ave and Orchard St were the recipients of the new sidewalks.

Thank you to everyone for your support!

We are now working on completing our cookbook and will be donating some of the funds raised to people in need of food, clothing or help with their copays.

Community Gardens

2009-07-02T11:03:00.001-07:00

In spite of challenging weather conditions such as late season frosts, high winds and rain and rain and, did I mention, rain? Community Centered Works has sponsored three gardens this spring. Seeds planted on Earth Day were nurtured at two greenhouses which lent us space, one was offered by Margaret Flint and the other by Jennifer Charney's Northville Central School science class. The seedlings inspired the students to start their own garden and they built and planted three raised bed gardens and as well as a small corner garden under Ms.Charney's direction. CCW helped with seeds, seedlings, organic gardening advice, free garden planning software and soil. Ms. Charney and Lisa Albertin and her family will monitor the gardens over the summer and produce will be shared with the community and local food banks at harvest time.

The Johnstown Lexington Center Garden Club, led by Tina Roice, planted a garden in the Spring Street Park. Neighbors and Cub Scout Troop 144 will help the garden club maintain the plot and share the produce. CCW got permission from the Department of Public Works in Gloversville and provided tomato, eggplant, marigold, basil and parsley plants.
A small demonstration garden was planted by Jamie Risedorph at Community Physical Therapy and Wellness which contains tomatoes, peppers, basil, parsley, lettuce, carrots and nasturtiums and marigolds. Robert "Kip" Whitehouse and Joseph Webber built the raised bed with lumber donated by Brownell Lumber. Risedorph has been thinning the seeded bed by giving away packs of lettuce and marigolds. The produce will be shared with the staff and patients of the Wellness Center.

We would like to extend special thanks to Chad Kaypeck, owner of Gloversville True Value, for his generous donation of gardening tools and wheel barrels; to Meghan and Chris Rizzo of Rizzo Trucking for discounted topsoil and to Jerry Sherman for tirelessly scouring neighborhoods for sites and volunteers and for rototilling the Spring Street garden. Next year we will do more with areas offered by the city of Gloversville a long the Rail Trail so be ready to volunteer to head up a neighborhood garden!

Our apologies to Peg Snyder and the McNab school students who wanted a raised bed garden this year. Joe and Kip built their bed with the donated lumber, but it was vandalized over the Memorial Day hoilday and we were unable to replace the wood in time. We have been busy building our new office space and expanded Wellness facility. We will get it built in the fall and then it will be ready for spring planting, promise!

Community Gardens

2009-05-14T10:12:00.001-07:00

Community Centered Works is accepting gardeners to begin building and planting community gardens throughout Gloversville. We will plant a small demonstration garden at Community Physical Therapy and Wellness on 5th Avenue and full sized gardens on lots in town. Locations being considered are on Harrison Street and Hill Street adjacent to the Rail Trail but visible from the road. Jerry Sherman has been in contact with the owner of a lot on Pine Street who has offered the use of water from the house adjacent to the lot. The produce from the gardens will be given to the participants with extra produce being donated to local food banks. For more information on participating in the Community Garden Project, please call CCW at 775-1968 or Jerry at 725-6681.

Earth Day Weekend Event

2009-04-19T18:01:00.000-07:00

Community Centered Works hosted an Earth Day seed planting event at Community Physical Therapy and Wellness in Gloversville, NY on Saturday, April 18th. Members of the Adirondack Flyers 4H Club planted tomato, pepper, cantaloupe and jalapeno seeds in miniature "greenhouses" created from clear plastic egg cartons. The seeds will be transferred to the greenhouse at Northville School and then transplanted to various community gardens throughout Gloversville and Northville. After explaining the purpose of the community gardens (to provide organic vegetables to the community and those in need of food), Jamie Risedorph, CCWs project coordinator, gave the 4H members a list of practical things they can do around the house to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint. Also,"ten items you didn't know you could recycle" were discussed and printed out for future reference. This event will be repeated from 2 to 4 on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22nd.

Earth Day Events

2009-04-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

Community Centered Works is sponsoring Earth Day events on Saturday the 18th and Wednesday the 22nd. We will be planting seeds in recycled containers (egg cartons will be provided but anything will do!), passing out energy saving tips and constructing a raised bed garden. The events will take place in front of Community Physical Therapy and Wellness on 5th Ave in Gloversville from 10 to 12 on Saturday and 2 to 4 on Wednesday. Attendees can take their seed plantings home or leave them with us to be nurtured by Lisa and Emalee Albertin and other students in the Northville School greenhouse. When the weather is appropriate, the seedlings will be planted in community gardens throughout Gloversville. Some will remain in Northville to provide the students with food to eat or sell at the local farmers' market.

Please read on for more details. I placed this short piece on the Wilderness Society's Earth Day event page:

I am a vegetarian nutritionist and the only animal based food my husband and I eat are eggs. These are eggs from cage free, vegetarian fed hens that are locally raised; however, over the winter I was forced to buy Pete and Gerry's or Nellie's cage free organic eggs at our local Hannaford Supermarket as the local hens went on strike during the cold weather! The store bought eggs are sold in clear plastic containers. I am organizing an Earth Day event recycling those egg cartons as mini greenhouses for seedlings. The resulting plants will be planted in community gardens that two non-profit organizations are providing to help feed the public healthy organic vegetables. (I am project coordinator for one of those non-profits, Community Centered Works, the other organization is the First Presbyterian Church Community Garden) Eating locally grown food reduces our carbon footprint substantially and when people can just walk to their community garden or backyard plot, it reduces it further. Eating non-meat food also reduces your individual carbon footprint, as vegetables require much less water, land area per pound of nutrients and when they are grown organically they are not utilizing fossil fuel based fertilizers and pesticides. Plus, plants take carbon dioxide out of the air and give back clean oxygen. I hope to keep expanding this project until there is no one in town who can't "afford" organic vegetables. Our growing season is short here so we are looking ahead to building a greenhouse heated by compost to extend our season in the Great Northeast!

Call 775-1968 for more information

2009-03-02T11:31:00.000-08:00

Community Centered Works
"Working to Revitalize our Community"

February Fund Raiser

2009-02-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

Community Centered Works has again raised one thousand dollars for Fulton County food pantries. The program, named “Change for Change” raised five hundred dollars by collecting small donations at the Gloversville Hannaford Supermarket and Community Physical Therapy and Wellness Center. Goodemote then matched the $500 donated.

The money will be divided between food pantries located in Fulton County churches, Fulmont Community Action Agency and the Salvation Army. In addition, $100 of the money raised was used to purchase tickets to a pancake breakfast, which were then distributed to persons who had recently been home bound or had suffered excessive stress.

Project coordinator of Community Centered Works, Jamie Risedorph recently explained this new part of the program on a Tri-County Close Up interview. “We will continue to purchase tickets for fund-raising dinners and breakfasts and offer them to people who need a respite from their troubles and would benefit from a meal as well,” Risedorph explained

Change from within to create change on the outside!

2009-02-19T10:53:00.000-08:00

We educate youth and provide opportunities for them to return to our community with job opportunities that inspire and where cooperation is not a catch phrase, but a way of life.
Community Centered Works is dedicated to making our community healthy, safe and productive.

Our Goals

2009-02-19T10:47:00.000-08:00

Repair damaged city sidewalks
Keep food pantries well stocked
Plant community gardens
Provide sustainable, quality housing
Run organic farms on renewable energy
Provide jobs maintaining community

We believe we can help one another by demonstrating our intentions.
We inspire volunteers to provide the labor and service we need to help beautify our city.
We intend to create jobs and businesses that enefit the person, the commnity and our county.

What we've done so far

2009-02-19T10:27:00.000-08:00

Community Centered Works has been busy working in tandem with other community organizations to assure that there is plenty of food and clothing available for those in need throughout our community.

In December employees and clients at Community Physical Therapy and Wellness raised $108 in 5 days which was matched by owner Matthew Goodemote. The resulting $216 was donated to the Salvation Army and the funds were used to help serve 170 Christmas dinners to families who otherwise would have gone without.

We continued to collect small donations asking for "Change for Change" with Mr. Goodemote continuing to match each dollar donated. The Fulton County Medical Society, a charitable group made up of local physicians, donated $500 which was added to the CCW donations adding up to $500 and the thousand dollar total was used to purchase boxes of food (called Fund a Feast) from the Gloversville Hannaford.in mid-January. The boxes were then picked up by the Salvation Army and distributed to area food banks. An additional 36 boxes were donated by Carl Tambasco, manager of the Hannaford supermarket. Those boxes were given to Fulmont Community Action Group.

CCW continues to collect money and is planning to distribute the funds to various food banks and individuals recommended by the senior centers and area churches. A new program has been added in which we will purchase tickets to various fund-raising dinners and breakfasts and then pass these meals on to people who would benefit from the free meal and time with other members of our community.
The following is a copy of the press release that appeared in several local papers (the above photo appeared with this release) :

“Change for Change”

Community Funds Food Pantry with Small Donations

Gloversville, NY--One thousand dollars was raised by patrons and the owner/operator of Community Physical Therapy & Wellness Center of Gloversville, NY for Fulton County food pantries. The program, named “Change for Change” funded recently 136 “Fund a Feast” boxes of food for the pantries that were purchased at the Gloversville, NY Hannaford Supermarket, who added a donation of their own to the project.

The monies for this project were raised from small donations given by patrons of the Community Physical Therapy and Wellness and matched by owner Matthew Goodemote. “Most of the donations were spare change or a few dollars at a time. This shows me that ALL giving is worth it and makes a difference,” Goodemote said. “We started a program, “Change for Change,” where people will be asked to give one dollar each month and I will match each dollar given. This time, program donations totaled $500 ($250 in donations and a match by Goodemote of $250). The Fulton County Medical Society (a charitable organization funded by local physicians) added $500, bringing the total to $1000 raised from donations.”

Carl Tambasco, Hannaford’s manager, added a donation of 36 additional “Fund a Feast” boxes to the 100 purchased in gratitude for the donations given by the community at his store.

Monetary donations for the Fulton County food pantries will continue to be collected and matched by Goodemote. Donations will be accepted at Community Physical Therapy & Wellness, (Ames Plaza/Fifth Avenue, Gloversville), at the office of Jaime Risedorph of Community Centered Works at 84 East State Street, Gloversville and at Hannaford Supermarket of Gloversville (235 Fifth Avenue Extension). Goodemote added, “No one has to feel they have to give a lot or more than they can afford to make a difference. If everyone gives just a little, we all benefit from a stronger community. We will be matching monthly donations to the food pantries to insure that your generosity and compassion are felt throughout our community.”

Earlier in December, “Change for Change” raised $216 and was donated to the Salvation Army to help them serve Christmas dinner to 170 local Fulton County families.

For more information on “Change for Change” and to learn how you can participate, call Jamie Risedorph at Community Centered Works, 518-775-1968.

Working to Revitalize Our Community

2009-02-19T08:01:00.000-08:00

Community Centered Works is a non-profit organization committed to revitalizing and growing our community through sustainable projects created and implemented by volunteers and donations that create jobs and provide educational experiences.

Our mission is to demonstrate through action how communities can create their own destiny.
We are committed to helping our community through revitalization projects and organizing and growing businesses.