Home Depot workers spruce up the grounds at Chautauqua County Rural Ministry in Dunkirk.

After a surprise visit from Dunkirk Fredonia’s Home Depot last Fall, Chautauqua County Rural Ministry received a grant award from Home Depot Foundation.

The Home Depot’s environmental, social strategy is centered by three key pillars focusing on the local people, operating, sustainability and strengthening the community. Home Depot strives to operate as a company that reflects and supports diversity, equity and the community they serve.

Chautauqua County Rural Ministry was able to reap the benefits of these values. Through Home Depot Foundation, CCRM’s property received a complete facelift including weeding, mowing, mulching, planting, leaf removal and building raised garden beds.

“It was beyond amazing for all the work the employees did. The project was huge!” said Executive Director Kathleen G. Peterson.

Under the guidance of Gary Galloway, local Home Depot specialty assistant store manager, a grant was submitted to the Home Depot Foundation. Once approved Galloway and many other employees spent the day completing the work.

Chautauqua County Rural Ministry also received a grant through Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation for the Supervised Visitation/Parent Time Program. Parent Time is a program for children who are in foster care and their parents who attend regular visitation. The grant will provide educational materials, training, materials and supplies for the children, parents, and staff.

“We are so grateful to NCCF for not only this support but also what they do for our entire community” Peterson said.

NCCF is structured to support the most pressing needs in the community. Previously NCCF provided funds to Rural Ministry for the purchase of video equipment. This equipment enables the agency to provide ongoing educational information on our programs. Videotaping has begun and once edited will be available for the community.

CCRM will hold regular cooking and nutrition workshops, outlines of each program CCRM operates, including the Garment Gallery, Friendly Kitchen, Emergency Food Pantry, Muriel’s Closet, The Book Shop and Community Gardening.

United Way of Northern Chautauqua County awarded CCRM funding for the Friendly Kitchen and Basic Needs Program. United Way improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good. “I’m so pleased to announce United Way’s continued support of our soup kitchen and basic needs program. The support from them makes such a difference in the lives we touch by providing hot nutritious meals 365 days a year and other non-food emergencies,” Peterson said.

CCRM is a Community Partner of United Way of Northern Chautauqua County and supported by local churches, foundations, academic institutions and the community at large. If you would like to know more information about CCRM, please call 366-1787.