About Us
Community Cupboard History
The "concept" of Irondequoit Community Cupboard, Inc. began in 1995.
Debbie Evans, an Irondequoit resident, was an active volunteer
in the East Irondequoit school district and noticed several
children who didn't have winter clothes to wear. She found that
there were many families living right in her own community who
were living without basic necessities; food, clothes, hygiene
items, etc.
What started out as helping a few families in 1995 with a PTA
sponsored "Hat, Coat and Boot Exchange" in 1996 has grown into a
New York State not-for-profit organization. The Irondequoit
Community Cupboard Inc, established as a "Not for Profit 501c3
Organization" in 2003, proudly assisting an average of 5-9
families per week have seen our households grow to (on average)
70 households per month. (2008-09)
Poverty affects everyone! In the last couple of years, there has
been an increase in the numbers of people who call Irondequoit
Community Cupboard for assistance. With many companies laying
off, letting go or closing, there are many displaced workers.
They are not making enough money to make ends meet. Some
families are working several jobs and some are still not
working. Others are seniors (on a fixed income) who have already
worked a full life and are retired, but with the rising costs of
taxes and medication and utilities would not be able to stay in
their homes without our assistance. Most of our families have
faced food insecurity many times this year
We are also seeing the needs change. We assist families who do
not receive enough food stamps to get them through the end of
the month. Food stamps DO NOT include items such as toothpaste
and toothbrushes, soap and deodorant, laundry detergent and
cleaning products or feminine hygiene products and paper goods.
We are seeing more and more people who come to us for items such
as school supplies, birthday cakes, cleaning supplies and and
mostly referrals to other agencies.
Town of Irondequoit Demographics
According to the 2000 census, Irondequoit has 52,354 residents. There are
22,276 households. Of these households~1,439 earn less than $10,000 per year.
8,327 are on Social Security earning less than $12,500 per year
382 are on Public Assistance receiving less than $4,100 per year
Irondequoit has 551 families living BELOW Poverty level. We have 2,794
individuals and 766 seniors also living below poverty level.
Board Members
Founder and President - Debbie Evans
Debbie has been working on this endeavor since 1995 when she
began on a much smaller scale of helping children in her school
district by making sure their families had enough food to get
them through the winter break. With the help of family, friends,
PTA and other civic groups, Debbie has been able to expand this
throughout the entire town of Irondequoit. She counsels, guides
and refers individuals with a variety of needs while utilizing
her growing knowledge of the social need that exists in our
community. Debbie is married to her husband Doug and they have 2
teenage boys Jeffrey and Matthew. Debbie also served on the
Irondequoit Town Board for four years.
Vice President - Wilma Colotti
Wilma Colotti has lived in Irondequoit for 11 years with her
husband Gary and daughters Renee and Alexis. She loves the
beauty of the town and being so close to the water. She has been
involved with various PTA organizations at the schools her
daughters attend and is currently active with the Irondequoit
Soccer club. The reason she became involved with the ICC is " I
think it's important to realize that in today's world, anyone's
circumstances can change at any moment. By reaching out and
helping each other we try to make the world a little nicer place
to be and set the right example for our children". Wilma is
employed by the Mary Cariola Children's Center. The students at
MCCC also volunteer by putting together hygiene kits for
families served by the cupboard.
Treasurer - Anne Pawlowski
Anne began volunteering at ICC after she saw an ad in the United
Way campaign guide. "Being new to Irondequoit, I was looking for
a way to support my community."She is a RN and works at Mary
Cariola Childrens Center as their lead nurse. She also has an
associates degree in accounting which will help her in her newly
elected treasurer position.
Anne and her partner Penny, a lifetime Irondequoit resident,
purchased a home in Irondequoit in 2007. "My neighborhood is a
great place with great people and I have really come to love
Irondequoit. I am glad to be able to support my community in
some small way."
Secretary Secretary - Diane McHale-Mix
Diane live in Irondequoit and teaches at East
Irondequoit Middle School. She is also an active member of EI
PTA. Hobbies and interests include reading, hiking, travel and
fitness. Diane is married to Ron Mix and her sons, Brent and
Ryan are Eastridge graduates.
Reverend Sarah Culp
Sarah lives in Irondequoit with her husband David and
their three children. She is employed by the American Baptist
Churches of the Rochester Genesee Region as their Youth Ministry
Coordinator. She is also one of the founding members of Rythmic
Revolution, an organization that uses drums and messages to
raise awareness in audience about the issues facing at-risk
youth and to motivate it's audiences to become more involved in
the community and world through service to others.
Board Members:
Rev Sarah Culp
Kelly Slater
Cherie Sutton; Corresponding Secretary
Sue Reynolds
Honorary Board Members:
Shirley Olek
Rev. Jeff Printy
Contact Information
e-Mail: Info@IrondequoitCommunityCupboard.org
Phone: (585) 336-9107