All the time, people say to us, “I don’t know how you do it,” and some days, we can admit that our job, like any, can be really difficult.

But it’s emails like this one that make it all worth it.  Some members of our staff helped a local woman and her son obtain the resources necessary to move into a new, safe place.  She was scared, lost and feeling hopeless, and we did our best to make a difference. 

This email is about caring, believing, being thankful and giving back.  Please take a moment to read. 

Sent 3/27/13

GOOD MORNING!!!!!!

What a fantastic morning, got our keys yesterday. Spent our first night in our new apartment. Setting up will take some time as in excitement, I just crammed things in bags. The emotion on my son’s face to have him walk into a HOME after 6 months was truly priceless. He was a big boy and slept in his own room, on his own air mattress (until his new hospital bed comes). He told me last night, “mommy, you have always told me that god has angels on earth working.  I think the ones he sent us are the best.” As much as the medical profession has told me that he can at anytime leave me to go live with the lord, I TRULY value every second with him and the 3 of you have allowed us to yet still create more memories. So in closing from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your kindness, care, compassion and generosity. Once things calm down WE would like to do some volunteer hours somewhere, so expect phone calls or emails.

[MY SON] has also asked to have a non-perishable donation birthday in lieu of presents so he too can give back.  Alright I’ve kept you all long enough, Thank you again and may the lord truly bless each and everyone of you and keep you safe!

Sincerely,

[MOM AND SON]  

Click here to see how you can give in lieu of birthday presents like this generous boy! 

We’re very grateful for some recent donations!  As you can imagine, we are beyond thankful for the continued outpouring of support from local businesses, and we never take it for granted!  Thank you!!! 

 Informz employees stopped by at Christmastime with a surprise donation of $5,000.00 for Franklin Community Center.  The email marketing software company is the neighbor of the community center and has been supporting them in various ways for years.  This donation from Informz was the largest from the company thus far and was in addition to their employees sponsoring multiple families for Christmas.
 
Pictured Left to Right: John Luttmer, Informz HR Manager; Alicia Deering, eMarketing Advisor; and Franklin Community Center’s Jaime Williams, Deputy Director.  

Saratoga Hilton’s Darryl Leggieri presents FCC’s Bo Goliber with a check for $4,000.  The donation  is from the proceeds raised at the annual “Breakfast with Santa” event that was held on Christmas Eve. 

Pictured L-R: Bo Goliber of Franklin Community Center, Lori Gazzillo AVP Community Relations and Tami Gunsch SVP Retail Banking both from Berkshire Bank, and Kari Cushing Executive Director of Franklin Community Center accept a check for $2,500 to support the Franklin Community Center as part of Berkshire Bank’s grand opening ribbon cutting celebration of their new full service financial services center in Wilton, NY.

Most Wednesdays fly under the radar.  Sure, it marks the halfway point between the work-week, but really, most of the time, Wednesday gets a lackluster review.

Well, not here.  Not today.  No Sir.  Today is going down as one of my favorites in the closing days of 2012.  Maybe it’s the whole 12/12/12 thing.  Or maybe it’s the fact that with the potential impending Mayan-predicted-apocalypse, I’ve decided to bask in the glow of the fabulous little things just in case the world ends.  Either way, I’m digging it.

Today, I woke up to check our Facebook page to see if my Christmas wish of hitting 1,000 likes had come true yet.  Close, but no cigar.  So I threw out a little hint to the masses…

Fast forward three hours.  I log on (which, by the way, is totally part of my job, I swear) to find that not only did we hit 1,000 friends—we were up to 1,019 already!  On top of that, we had the most appreciative message from someone who asked for help this holiday season, compounded by the kindness from our donors who just keep coming at us with thoughtful words and generosity.  We continue to hear from businesses and organizations with innovative ways to give back; even young children are willing to forfeit gifts from their own birthday parties in an effort to give them to kids in need.  Oh, and don’t forget the single, hardworking mom who picked up gifts for her three kids (who had a REALLY hard time asking for help this year)  who, with me, spent 5 minutes hugging and crying because we were so moved by the experience.  It’s so good, you can’t make this stuff up!

And now that we’ve got Facebook down, next up is Twitter.  I mean, if the Pope can do it, so can I, right?

So, here’s to 12/12/12!  Those Mayans ain’t got nothin’ on FCC. 

~Bo Goliber

Call us resourceful–we’re pulling out all the stops in the coming months to raise funds for FCC in fun and unique ways!  If you’d like to help, mark your calendar for the event that most interests you:
 
Pink Raven Tattoos

Alright, you see the name, and you might think, “Oh dear!”  But don’t worry!  This tattoo and art gallery is a fun and fabulous new establishment at 55 Beekman Street, dedicated to art and making a difference in the community.  The owners are super friendly and big fans of FCC, so they’ve come up with a great way to get the community involved in supporting art and giving back.

Step 1: Got an iPhone and love to take pictures?  Send an Instagram to pinkraventattoos@gmail.com.  They’re seeking submissions from local residents, and prizes will be awarded to the top photographs.  Send them by November 21st!

Step 2: Join us on December 1st from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. for an opening reception.  Thanks to Crush and Cask, you can enjoy some liquid libations while you peruse the prints of the submitted images.  They’ll be sold for $10 each during the party to benefit Franklin Community Center.  How fun would it be to purchase cool and unique photos as holiday gifts for a good cause?

Step 3: You can also ink your commitment to Franklin Community Center, and give a gift that will last a lifetime! Pink Raven Tattoos will donate 20-percent of every gift card sold on behalf of us in the month of December.  To contribute, drop by the shop and let the staff know that you would like to support Franklin Community Center at the time of purchase.  Gift cards are available in amounts of $50 or more and are valid through December 2013.  For more information, call 409-0527.

Support Homemade Theatre/Support FCC

The Wizard of Oz is coming to Homemade Theatre!!!  If you’re planning to attend the show, purchase your tickets on November 27th, 28th, or 29th and use the promotional code HELPFCC.  Half of all sales using this code (on these three dates only) will benefit FCC.

Please note: This only applies for the show on December 7th.

To get tickets, call HMT box office at 587-4427 between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. and mention the code; go to http://www.homemadetheater.org/ and click buy tickets; or stop into the box office.    
 

Breakfast with Santa

The Saratoga Hilton will host its 18th Annual Breakfast with Santa, with proceeds this year benefitting the Franklin Community Center , from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday, December 24; doors open at 8 a.m. Admission to the breakfast buffet costs  $8 for adults, $4 for children age 4 to 12, and free for younger than 4.  There will also be a raffle and visit from ol’ Saint Nick. Call 584-4000 for info.  Reservations are not necessary.  The hotel is located at 534 Broadway, Saratoga Springs.  Special thanks to Darryl Leggieri and our Board Member Chris Cook for making this happen.
 

Rock Out with Franklin in February

Budweiser & Saratoga Eagle present “The Mike Perkins Project”
Mark your calendar, line up your sitters and join us February 9th at The Putnam Den in Downtown Saratoga at 7 p.m.  A donation of $20 per person/$30 per couple gets you an evening of awesome music by “The Mike Perkins Project”, a group of talented musicians from all over the country who’ve been holding benefit concerts in our area for several years.  We’re the lucky recipients this year, and it’s going to be a great time!  Their music consists of danceable, upbeat and varied cover tunes by some of the greatest artists of our time and will appeal to a wide audience.  Putnam Den has been hailed one of the premiere music venues in the Capital/Saratoga area.       
 
*Still Needed:

You answered our call for food, and we thank you!  We should be held over for a few months, thanks to all of you.

But we could still use donors to purchase gifts by “adopting a child” for Christmas.  If you would like to purchase gifts for a local child/children, please email Kristen@franklincommunitycenter.org your name, address, phone number and the number of children you would like to shop for; she will email you a wish list of a local child.  This is a great way for businesses to give back, too!  If you don’t hear back from Kristen within three business days of sending your email, call 587-9826 to follow up.      
 
Like us on Facebook and help us get to 1,000 likes by the New Year!  And if you already do, tell your friends they should, too!  

 
www.franklincommunitycenter.org

As fall sneaks its way into our area, with it comes change.  The leaves turn, the days get a bit shorter and we feel a chill in the air as we scoot our children onto the school bus after a fun summer.

At Franklin Community Center, fall always brings an abundance of change, especially for so many of the people in our community who rely on our services.  A swift hike in gas prices coupled with back to school costs has our food pantry serving more than 50 people on any given day—some days we’re closer to 100.  Looming winter heat bills and holiday costs are right around the corner.  And people are constantly asking about affordable housing options in our area, while they struggle to pay their rent as their bills pile up.     

One of the greatest things about our city is the number of agencies who work together to help those in-need.  Because so many of our days are spent trying to help others maneuver their way through difficult situations, there is nothing better than when we are actually able to make a connection and help find a resolution.  One area where we have seen positive change, even on a small scale, is working with other organizations, like Shelters of Saratoga, to provide permanent housing to those transitioning out of temporary housing.

Rarely do our stars align when SOS has a perfect candidate for our 17-unit, efficiency affordable housing building, and we actually have a vacancy.  After all, it is designed to be permanent housing, and we hope to have the building full at all times.  But one glimmer of hope these days has been our successful matching of SOS residents who have been able to find permanent housing at our facility.  It is an amazing accomplishment when you see an individual working hard to get back on his or her feet, doing everything to get themselves back on track.  It is even more amazing when you are a part of it.

The other day, I spoke to one of our new residents on the phone after all was finalized: “I’m so happy it worked out and everything came together for you,” I said.  “We’ve been really lucky to have a few recent success stories from SOS.”

She replied with joy in her voice, “And I’m one of them.  I’m so happy!”

We also recently worked together to place another gentleman in permanent housing, and he made a complete turnaround for the better.  Once quiet and withdrawn, he’s now an outgoing and helpful member of our community, taking a huge interest in gardening and working on a daily basis.  It just goes to show how having a place to call your own, however humble, can shape your whole outlook. 

Positive changes like these can’t be made as a solo effort.  It takes the support of multiple agencies and organizations to get people to a point where they can feel empowered again.  We’ve still got a long way to go, and despite the fact that the stars aligned for some, there are still dozens more who need our help.  I guess the most important thing to remember is even if you’ve helped only one person, you have made a difference.

And sometimes that just has to be enough.

I’ve always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason; in fact I’m sure I’ve said that before in one of my previous posts.  But there are some moments in life when you just know the very reason a particular circumstance unfolds is to teach you something important…

We pride ourselves on our compassion, empathy and kindness here at FCC.  Most people tell us it’s obvious that our staff is here by “choice” and not by “chore”.  There is no doubt that each one of us gets busy in our defined “roles,” but we all love the opportunity to directly reach out and help someone when we can.

Today, from my desk at the top of the stairs, I could hear the busy-ness in the lobby below.  As I not-so-gracefully galloped down the stairs to help, I noticed a well-dressed woman glancing at the pamphlets and flyers on the wall.  I politely asked, “May I help you?”  With concern in her eyes, she replied, “I’m just hoping to get some information about the services you provide.”  She went on to say that she was “basically homeless” and looking for resources on which she could rely, and eventually hoping to find senior housing.

If this story sounds familiar, it’s because this scenario happens more times than I’d like to count, but every person’s story is eerily similar and yet markedly different each time.         

As I took the woman into the empty office downstairs to see if I could help, she shared her tragic story.  She moved here from an urban city about a year ago after encountering some devastating life circumstances to her closest loved ones.  Her mental health was severely affected, and she was now struggling to regain some sense of normalcy, coping skills and self- respect.  Relying on SSD and SSI until she is feeling well enough to get a job, her primary issue was finding a “safe place” to live, but she also needed some clothing, food and resources.  Thankfully, we were able to provide her with much of what she needed.
 
Think about it.  This woman on the surface was someone who was once a donor to agencies like ours.  She’s educated, smart, kind, and she presented well for someone truly struggling.  On the inside, she was scared, overwhelmed and searching for help.

When I first looked at her, I assumed she was a donor dropping something off.  And I’m ashamed to admit that when I realized she needed me to sit with her for a while, I grew internally frustrated that I’d have to shift my focus away from my “important fundraiser” for a bit.

But I walked away realizing something: This is why I do what I do.  Her hug and smile on her way out the door made me realize exactly why we’re here.  My ”important fundraisers” are for people exactly like this woman and thousands of others like her.  And if I didn’t have these reminders every once in a while, I think I’d lose sight of what’s most important. 

She never would have guessed she’d need a place like Franklin Community Center, but she did.  

Funny, I guess I needed her, too.           

Bring on the summer hoopla!  FCC is one busy place these days, and we’d like to fill you in.  Please take a moment to read what’s on the calendar for the coming weeks…

Summer Has Arrived…

School’s out, so you know it’s that time of year when more kids are at home; this means more traffic for the food pantry.  Please feel free to drop by Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with non-perishable items for our shelves.  We strive to continue meeting the needs of our less fortunate neighbors, and we’re so grateful for your help as these difficult months are upon us.  Our website  has our list of needs.

You Can Leave Your Hat On…

On July 11^th, you can stop by encounter, a men’s and women’s boutique located at 482 Broadway, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. for a just-in-time preview of this season’s hat trends and cocktails.  Ten-percent of sales will be donated to Franklin Community Center.  This is one business that is making their mark on the community because they are as generous as they are fabulous! 

Brooks BBQ Blazing Into Town…

Can’t you smell it already???  Tickets are on sale for our collaborative Brooks BBQ to benefit three awesome, local agencies, Franklin Community Center, Rebuilding Together and The Senior Center.  On Tuesday, July 24th, we’ll be at the Senior Center at 5 Williams Street from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. rolling up our sleeves and serving the community in a different way, giving each of our organizations a boost.  The event is rain or shine, and guests can eat-in or take-out. Brooks is offering two dinner choices: BBQ Chicken or BBQ Ribs. Each dinner also includes a baked potato, cole slaw and a dinner roll. Drinks, desserts and Brooks BBQ sauces will also be available for purchase separately. The ticket cost is $10 for a chicken dinner or $12 for a rib dinner. Bulk orders can be placed and delivered to location such as large housing sites, fire stations, office buildings and medical facilities.  All guests must arrive to dine-in or pick up orders by 6:30 p.m. 

Presale tickets need to be purchased by Friday, July 20, as only a limited number of dinners will be available for sale the day of the event. Tickets can be purchased at all three agencies: Franklin Community Center (10 Franklin Street, Saratoga Springs), The Senior Center (5 Williams Street, Saratoga Springs) and Rebuilding Together Saratoga County (267 Ballard Road, off Exit 16 in Wilton). The proceeds from the event will be split evenly three ways, and we’re hoping to sell over 1,500 tickets!  Does it get any more delicious?   

Project Lift University, Full Speed Ahead!

We’re barely over the golf tourney, but there’s no slowing us down!  Project Lift University is coming up on October 11^th at Longfellows, and we are so excited!  We’re up to over $9,000 in sponsorships already, and there are no signs of stopping.   On board so far are: Citizens Bank, Pediatric Dentistry of Glens Falls, Hannoush Jewelers, FingerPaint Marketing, Sage Consulting and Wealth Preservation, Adirondack Trust, Saratoga National Bank, and several more are in the works… Don’t miss this event!  Lots of interesting classes are being lined up and some terrific auction items as well.  Stay tuned to our website as the details continue to unfold.

With Gratitude…

We continue to be fueled by the positive feedback, support and kindness that is shown to our staff and the people we serve.  Even when faced with difficult economic times, an occasional naysayer or an obstacle in our way, we are pushed forward by those who support us in our mission.  To those who have been there all along, and to those who jump on board every day, let us not forget, we are making a difference.

Wow.  What a whirlwind of a week here at FCC!  Heading into the Memorial Day weekend, I think it’s safe to say we are all looking forward to a little rest time with our families.

We’re tying up all the last minute details for our golf tourney, which is one week from tomorrow.  It has been so much fun getting to know our sponsors and donors, and we love meeting all of the golfers that help make the event a huge success.  Now let’s just hope the weather brings us nothing but sunshine!

Today was Senior Give Back Day, where Seniors from SSHS volunteer their time at various non-profits in our area.  They did such a great job cleaning up our three properties.  It’s amazing how overgrown everything can get with all the rain, and we just wouldn’t be able to keep things looking so nice if it weren’t for groups like these.  Thank you!

We also built some more great relationships within the community this week.  We’re working on strengthening our ties and rallying support every day, as we know that it is more important than ever.  So many different individuals and groups are now starting their own grassroots efforts to contribute to our programs, and it’s their tangible and emotional encouragement that fuel us everyday.  Keep it coming!  It really helps a lot!

It often happens before a holiday weekend, but do you know how many people we served in the food pantry today–just TODAY?  We helped 42 people.  As much as we want to keep thinking that things are getting better economically, there are still so many struggling, right here in our backyard, who have nowhere else to go.  Today we had a woman who came in, in her scrubs on her way to work, who needed groceries to get her through the weekend; she had unexpected car troubles and didn’t anticipate the extra cost.  Some people might say, “People should learn to plan more responsibly,” but we’ve learned that it is not our place to judge here at FCC.  We’ve been here long enough to know that you really can’t judge a book by its cover, and we all know what it’s like to encounter tough times.  Empathy goes along way around 10 Franklin Street, and that’s very important to our mission.   

As we head into the holiday weekend, we can all take the time to relax, reflect and look forward to the upcoming summer.  We can remember our soldiers, our country, and our freedom as Americans.  We can be grateful for our ability to help others, our opportunities to make friends, and spread laughter.  We can focus on the good, learn from the bad and refuse to settle for indifference.  Whatever you do, do it with determination and enjoy every minute!  We’re sending love your way.    

                                                                   “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

Loving the Springtime…
In less than one month, we’ll tee off at our 14th Annual Franklin Open at Windy Hills in Greenwich, and we are so excited!  It feels like January was only minutes ago, as we were sending out our first letters to sponsors, and now, here it is just weeks away from June 2nd!  We are so lucky to have such amazing sponsors behind us, and we love seeing our loyal and generous golfers year after year!  It truly is a day to which we all look forward.

We’re also enjoying watching our newly planted garden grow outside, thanks to our volunteer Jo who has been working tirelessly to give back to our agency as her way of saying thanks for our help in the past.  And we can’t wait to see the new mural that is being painted on the side of Parillo’s next to our office.  It’s going to be awesome!  Don’t forget to watch the progress when you drive by. 

Food Updates:
While we really don’t like having to ask over and over, we do want to make sure everyone knows that the food pantry is struggling this week.  We are completely out of corn, mac and cheese, instant potatoes, rice and noodle side dishes, pasta sauce, and peas.  We really need peanut butter and jelly, chunky soups, tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, tuna, cereal, Chef Boyardee, and canned fruit.  We are definitely doing our part to set up food drives and use funds that are donated for this purpose, but it seems to be particularly busy right now.  Food can be dropped of Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Help us to keep helping all those who turn to us during tough times. 

Don’t forget our free store will take your gently used in-season clothing and household items on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 101 Washington Street. 

The Anticipation…
Even though we’re in full golf tournament mode, we are so looking forward to Project Lift University on October 11, 2012, at Longfellows, to benefit our after-school prevention program, Project Lift.  If you are a skilled professional from our community who would like to donate your talent to teach a “class” for a worthy cause, please contact Bo to learn more!  And of course we are looking for child-centered and relevant businesses to sponsor the event, as well! 

Here’s to crossing our fingers for a boat load of sunshine in the near future!  We’ll see you soon! 

It’s amazing how the spring weather brings a whole new perspective.  People are smiling, the flip flops are out, and the trees are even beginning to bud!  Our winter wasn’t even anything to complain about in terms of snow and cold, and yet we’re all giddy about the warm weather and sunshine.

We certainly have a lot to be excited about here at FCC.  Our golf tournament is scheduled for June 2nd at Windy Hills in Greenwich, and we can’t wait!  It is such a fun day with great people, and the money we raise for our programs at the tourney is instrumental to our agency. 

It’s also great to have volunteers outside cleaning up the grounds of our properties, as well preparing to plant flowers and add color.  We have groups lined up to assist with projects, like cleaning and painting, and we love being able to offer people the option to do things outside.  It truly is a great time of year, as everyone seems eager to help and forge together to make a difference.

Please keep in mind that our food pantry often gets low in spring and summer, and especially with gas prices spiking again, we expect to be hit hard.  We also need in-season clothing and household items at our free store at 101 Washington Street, so as you spring clean, please remember that your items could be very useful to someone else.  Drop off hours are on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  or clothes can be dropped off at any Cudney’s on the first Saturday of every month. 

Most importantly, let’s use spring as a reminder to celebrate our community and the people who live here.  We are all such integral pieces of life’s quilt, and it can be really empowering to offer a glimmer of hope to someone who might be struggling.

Smile, spread kindness and feel the sunshine!  You won’t be sorry.  Happy Spring!