Bridget Majka

Bridget Majka is the Chautauqua County Rural Ministry’s new executive director.

Majka is the charity organization’s former director of programs. She acted as an unofficial executive director after Kathleen Peterson passed away in October. The well-regarded Peterson led the ministry for more than two decades.

“I’m very thankful and very excited about the opportunity,” Majka said.

“Kathleen was a force…She will be missed.”

Majka, who has worked at Rural Ministry for 10 years, said the demand for holiday gifts and food was larger than ever this year. She added that everyone was helped, but it couldn’t have happened without the generosity of the community.

Majka said she and other Rural Ministry officials are working on acquiring new funding sources, and adding or supplementing programs.

One bit of good news received last week was the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation awarded a substantial grant of $25,000 to Chautauqua County Rural Ministry. This funding is designated to bolster the organization’s general operating expenses during a challenging period.

Recognizing the invaluable role that Chautauqua County Rural Ministry plays in our community, the grant aims to provide crucial support. The organization, while facing temporary challenges, continues to be a resilient force in addressing the needs of our community.

The grant underscores NCCF’s commitment to ensuring the continued success of local nonprofit organizations like Chautauqua County Rural Ministry. Rural Ministry has been a cornerstone of support for the community, and NCCF noted it is proud to stand alongside them. This grant reflects NCCF’s confidence in the organization’s ability to emerge even stronger from this time.

Chautauqua County Rural Ministry’s mission is to meet the unmet needs of the community, providing the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter to the less fortunate and those in crisis situations. The grant from the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation ensures that the organization can continue to fulfill its commitments to the community without compromising the quality of its services. For more information about Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, visit theccrm.org.

The grant to CCRM was made possible by the many donors who have contributed to NCCF’s Community Funds. Community Funds support grantmaking that addresses the immediate and ever-changing needs of the community, as well as local economic development, service learning projects, nonprofit capacity building, and more. “Unrestricted in nature, Community Funds offer maximum flexibility, allowing our knowledgeable Board of Directors to adapt quickly and direct the funds where they are most needed as we identify emerging needs and opportunities,” said Diane Hannum, NCCF’s executive director.

For more information on NCCF’s Community Funds, to contribute to an existing fund, or to establish your own named Community Fund, please visit nccfoundation.org, call 716-366-4892, or email nccf@nccfoundation.org.