Once again, the Fredonia community has proved itself to be both generous and caring. For 2019, we, the members of the Fredonia Presbyterian Church, are incredibly proud to be part of this community. Over 4,800 pounds of food were collected in this year’s drive. Once again, the shelves of the Fredonia Food pantry are stocked. Over the last year, the Fredonia Food Pantry has served over 300 people, many of them as regular guests. The total food distributed amounts to over 3,500 meals. The Fredonia Central School District reports that an average of 30% of the children qualify for free or reduced price lunches. The need is real and the village didn’t ignore those in need.

So many people, businesses and organizations were responsible for making this effort a success. Mayor Athanasia Landis and the Fredonia village trustees laid the foundation for the effort through their support and endorsement. The OBSERVER provided wonderful support and kept the public informed about the progress of the Challenge each step of the way.

Then there were the more than 90 local businesses, offices and individuals who were each a vital building block to our program as they publicized the event and acted as drop off sites. They are the core of our program. The following were all involved in making the challenge happen: Allstate Insurance, Aloe Vera, Apnea Care, Bahgat & Laurito-Bahgat, Barbara Ann’s Hair Salon, Basil Chevrolet Buick Cadillac, Dr. Bell Chiropractic, Bella Bronze Tanning, Blue Dragon Inn, Bodell Overcash Anderson, Brautigam and Brautigam, B&S Discount Tire, The Cakery, Campus & Community Children’s Center, Chai and Chocolates, Charlie’s Barber Shop, Chautauqua Brick, Colley’s Pools, Comerford Collision, Concord Pharmacy, Cool Little Music Shop , Rose Crino CPA, Culligan Water, The Cutting Crew, Darwin R. Barker Library, Darwin’s Health Club, DFT Communications, Dollar General on Main Street, Domus Fare, Drayo Law Office, Eades & Militello P.C., East Main Cafe, Edward Jones Investments, Facial Expressions, Daniel Faltisco DDS, Final Communications.

Fredonia Animal Hospital, Fredonia Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, Fredonia Fire Department, Fredonia Food Mart, Fredonia Opera House, Fredonia Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry, Fredonia Police, Fredonia Village Hall, Fredonia Place, Fredonia Post Office, Fred’s, Fresh and Fancy Flowers, Great Lakes Gold and Silver, Gugino & Ryel Financial, Hair Bar, Henry’s Hair Co., Hidden Treasure, Howard Hanna Holt Real Estate, Dr. Steven Ihrig, Inner Lakes FCU, Jamestown Mattress, Jim’s Cleaners, Karen’s Hairem, Lady of the Lake, Lake Shore Savings – Fredonia Branch, Liberty Food & Spirits, Literacy Volunteers, M&;T Bank, Mayville Tremaine Insurance, Medusa’s, Midtown Realty Co., Moonstruck, Mustard Seed, Nationwide Insurance.

Nine Lives Holistic, Om Nohm Gluten Free, The Paper Factory, Patton’s Lighting Center, Pomfret Town Office, Pucci’s Carpet One Furniture & Bedding, Rhythm & Grooves, Salon Belle Vie, The Sewer’s Choice, Simply Skin Spa, Sir Prints A Lot, Soapy Paws, State Farm, Tail Waggers’ Boutique, Tommy’s Barber Shop, Tuscany’s Fresh Meat & Deli, Upper Crust Bakery & Soup Co., Vacanti’s Hair & Nail Salon, Valone Ford Lincoln, Valu Home Center, and Visions of Elegance Hair Salon.

The Fredonia Central School District once again participated. Many thanks to Superintendent Jeffrey Sortisio for his support and for the hard work of leaders in every school. Principal Amy Piper and Ellen Foley of the Wheelock Early Childhood Center, Principal Mark Dollinger of the Elementary School, Emily Klein and Danielle Bongiovanni of the Middle School, as well as Principal Darrin Paschke of the High School all made it happen, and undoubtedly many others helped. Of course, we must not forget the children who brought in the food! Fredonia University also provided vital assistance. The Alpha Phi Omega student service organization, coordinated by Emily Staniszewski, helped move all the food from the Fredonia Central School onto the collection truck. Their hard work, cooperation and good humor were so welcome on collection day. In addition, of course, they traveled all over the Fredonia University campus picking up all the collection bins and packing this food for collection. Thanks to Ms. Joyce Smith of the Volunteer and Community Services Office for her help in coordinating the students’ involvement.

Finally, two groups had their own collections and made donations: Canadaway 4-H and the Hammerhead Swim Team. Also, more than ever before, we had other generous people who just dropped off donations without identifying themselves. A number of generous individuals made financial donations that contributed to our success, adding up to over $350.

It has been exciting to see the community come together once again to help their neighbors. It means so much to know that by working together we of the village of Fredonia can make a concrete difference. We of Fredonia Presbyterian Church are honored to serve in such a community.

Cynthia Wickwire-Lundquist is pastor of the Fredonia Presbyterian Church.