Welcome

 

 

Irondequoit Community Cupboard, Inc.

The Irondequoit Community Cupboard, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization designed to meet a variety of needs for families and individuals in the Town of Irondequoit, NY.

Mission Statement

“To provide emergency assistance to Irondequoit residents with dignity, kindness and without prejudice.”

Vision

"To raise awareness of the presence and impact of hunger and poverty in our community. We envision a community where all people share resources to ensure that residents’ basic needs are met in times of limited resources.

We advocate for and reach out to those in need and try to influence public policy so that every person in our community has the necessary support and resources to enhance nutrition, health and welfare.”

United Way
Remember us at United Way giving time we are designee #2466

If you are in need of assistance, please call (585) 336-9107.
(no appointments are made online)

Distribution Hours (BY APPOINTMENT ONLY)
Tuesday & Saturday from 9:30AM - 11:00AM.

Office Hours (BY PHONE ONLY)
Monday & Wednesday 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Fridays 9:00AM-12:00PM

The Irondequoit Town Hall is NOT a drop off point for donations.

We are grateful for your kind donations but please, utilize one of our three drop off points if you are not bringing your items to us at ICC.

The 3 drop off points again are:

The Ridge Culver Fire Dept
The Irondequoit Library
The Irondequoit Community Center

"Letter from the President"
(March 2026)

Dear Friends,
Is it Spring yet? ICC continues to be very busy and I think residents are really struggling with the increased prices for food, gas, utilities, rent, etc. Now there will be major changes to SNAP (formerly called food stamps) that will remove or cut people off of this program that they desperately need. ☹ I cannot stress enough how much our friends and neighbors continue to need all our support. We have all felt the pinch of increased prices for necessities that have mentioned above. Many of our residents live paycheck to paycheck and when their RGE bill skyrockets many have to make difficult choices between food and bills. Car repairs or a pet illness can put a family behind for months. An illness when you have a high deductible insurance policy, or no insurance can devastate a family. Sadly, I do not see an end to this in sight.

Currently I am filling the volunteer schedule for April, May and June. For all of our volunteers, including our regulars, PLEASE send me dates that you CANNOT work, and I will get you on the calendar.

Last week was February recess for kids which means they were home all week. For those who need and utilize the free breakfast and lunch programs, the extra food needed can over stress a grocery budget. At ICC we provided extra food and snacks for those with kids who were home to help ease that burden a little. Last year during the February break we received this letter from a mom in our community:

“I picked up a donation from you for the first time today and didn’t realize I had been given the wrong bags. Imagine my surprise when an incredibly kind woman pulled into my driveway with bags of groceries she delivered so my kids would have plenty during winter break. I am overwhelmed by the care you showed my family today. We are going through some tough times and this means so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all that you do to care for the community.”

We often get people who cry when they first come to us when they never had to before. Most are overwhelmed when they see how kind and welcoming we are and how much food we provide. The whole process can be devastating and embarrassing when you need to ask for help. We treat EVERYONE with kindness and dignity. Many who used to go to other pantries are always shocked stating at the other pantries they would receive a generic box of food where as we provide items they choose. This model is called “client choice” and this provides them with dignity and options which also means less waste. How speechless they are when they see the food offerings we provide, much because of you.

We often take things for granted but I promise you that those who come to us know how fortunate WE feel because we CAN provide necessary items. Everyday items we may enjoy are often luxury items; coffee, shampoo, laundry detergent, hand lotion…I cannot imagine daily life without coffee but for many its either coffee for them of food for their kids. As always, we are beyond grateful to you for allowing us to be the conduit to our residents in need.

As a reminder again, please, do NOT leave food outside at ICC; we are required to throw it out.
Please, do NOT leave food in your garage or car. If canned goods freeze and then thaw it is dangerous to eat and we are required to throw it out.
In addition, when you are cleaning out cabinets for whatever reason, check the items you are donating. As I am sure you can understand, we cannot take food items that have been opened. We have been receiving a lot of this lately; for example - jars of peanut butter, jars of mayonnaise, ketchup, salad dressing and even deodorant. Because we cannot open every single item that we receive, it is awful when we find out later that we gave someone something that had already been opened and used.
Lastly, while we can accept food that is beyond the best by date, there are limits to this. We cannot share food that is well beyond the best by date (which varies by product) To learn more about this, go to

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/food-product-dating

Lastly, I want to mention again, if you send donations through your financial institutions, they often don’t come with a name and address from who the donation came from. We love and take pride in thanking everyone who donates; no matter how big or small, so please, if you do not receive an acknowledgement and are wondering why, this is most often the likely reason. Again, thank you so much for your continued support, your friendship and your dedication to assisting others in our community. Stay healthy and warm!

We would like to thank the following people for their generosity this month:

Toby Berke
Listwood and Brookview schools
Arthur Murray Dance Studio
Victor Martinez
John W
Richard
United Church of Christ
Jay Ritchie
Pat
Larissa
Amy McDermott
Richard Stiehler
Josh Kamer
Sarah Westbrook
Don and Nancy Story
M Webber
John Stephon
Janel Whitcomb
Knights of Columbus
John
Nancy
Transfiguration Lutheran
Jackie Fox
Diane Hamilton
Blackbaud Financial (indiv. donation through here)
Ms Valerio
F Keeley
Mr and Mrs Torpey
M Seitzinger
Many donations in memory of our friend and former board member, Carolyn DeHond
Mr and Mrs Dengal
Mr and Mrs Wysliwiec
Sarah Mancini-Goebert
Nicole Dube
Joan Dalberth
Randy Schum
Mr and Mrs Hortop
Mr and Mrs Halsey
Mr and Mrs Gabello
Nancy Giordano
Cheryl Soanes
Phyliss Stohler
Jane Mills
Dan Brady
Mr and Mrs Bissinger
Rob Ross
Hilda Milham
Donations in honor of Vandy Humphrey
Mary Leonard
Donations in memory of Carl Wisniewski
Mr and Mrs Pelligra
Mr and Mrs Wilson

Sincerely,

Debbie Evans
Founder and President


Our amazing and talented, hardworking Board of Directors

Lisa Loeser, Chairperson
MaryJo Toepfer, Vice Chairperson
John Kane, Treasurer
Cherie Evans, Secretary


Mary Bragg, Board Member
Rachel DeBlieck, Board Member
John Villeneuve, Board Member
Emily Arnold, Board Member
Diane Zaccarine, Board Member
Emily Wayland, Board Member

WAYS TO DONATE

* Go to our website at www.irondequoitcommunitycupboard.org and click on our Paypal link or use the QR code from your Smartphone.

* Look at our Top 10 list always listed on our Facebook page or our website and choose an item to purchase for us

* Donate food items and drop them off at any of our drop-off sites

* Donate gift cards for those who come to us after all of our deadlines have passed.

* Check donations can be made payable to ICC c/o Debbie Evans
PO Box 17834 Rochester, NY 14617