Renodin Foundation grant recipients (from left) Bill Beck of First Baptist Church of Cuba, Athena Godet-Calogeras of the Veggie Wheels Program, Angela Erway of the YWCA of Bradford,Pa., and Charles McCole of St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Olean, spoke of how the Renodin grants helped their agencies. Erway is holding a backpack that contains supplies for the homeless that were purchased, in part, through a Renodin grant.
By KATE DAY SAGER
June 4, 2019 – Olean Times Herald and Bradford Era
ALLEGANY — Sharing the memory of a family with two small children who were forced to live in a tent last summer nearly brought Angela Erway of the YWCA of Bradford, Pa., to tears during the Dr. Lyle R. Renodin Foundation Grant Recipient Breakfast Monday.
Erway’s story of the family, however, had a happy ending thanks to a Renodin Foundation grant awarded to the agency which was, in turn, used to help homeless families assisted by the YWCA.
Erway and three other representatives of agencies that received Renodin grants spoke to a large group of people gathered at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse at 115 E. Main St.
Mary Jo Black, chairman of Renodin’s board of directors, said the foundation was started in 2000 by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany as a depository of the proceeds from the former St. Francis Hospital when it merged with Olean General Hospital.
The foundation, named for Dr. Lyle Renodin, a longtime friend and financial advisor to the Sisters, has provided 383 grants totaling $1,187,670 to 73 organizations in the area to improve the quality of life for poor and marginalized people. Last year alone, the Renodin Foundation provided $66,104 to 33 organizations, of which six were brand new agencies. She said the need in area communities continues to grow, which is why the Foundation began fundraising this year and garnered $16,000.
Erway said the Renodin funds not only have helped the YWCA hire two people who were formerly homeless, but also used the grant to help a family in a dire situation.
“Last summer we had a family who were living in couple of tents in the woods,” Erway recalled, her voice becoming shaky with emotion. “It was a father, mother and two little girls … he had worked in the oil and gas business for years and had done fairly well.”
Unfortunately, the man lost his job with a local drilling company, and as a result the family lost their home, vehicles and other possessions.
“They had no choice but to gather what they could and live in a couple of tents in the woods,” Erway continued. “They were eventually able to get into our shelter and he got a job with a local contractor and they’re doing fine now.”
As a result of the family’s plight, the YWCA wrote its grant to Renodin to purchase tents, backpacks, socks, hand warmers, sleeping bags and can openers to help people with no place else to turn until housing can be found.
Also providing testimonials on help provided by Renodin was Bill Beck of First Baptist Church of Cuba, Athena Godet-Calogeras of the Olean Housing Authority, and Charlie McCole of St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Olean.
Godet-Calogeras said the Renodin grant has helped the Veggie Wheels program, formerly called Veggie Mobile, provide fresh vegetables and fruits to the needy in neighborhoods in Olean and Salamanca the past few years. The project will add Delevan to its route this summer.
Beck said the Renodin grant has helped First Baptist Church in Cuba purchase backpacks and supplies for 80 to 105 students in the Cuba-Rushford Central School District.
“This program has been very successful and helpful to families in our area who don’t have the extra funds to support their children’s needs when it comes to school,” Beck said, noting the Renodin grants also helped the church fully sponsor nine children to attend summer camp.
When sharing his thoughts on St. Vincent DePaul, a used clothing store, McCole said Renodin’s funds help the agency continue to assist needy people who have had eviction notices, utilities shut off, prescription costs and emergency food needs, among other issues.
“Given the rising costs of everything in this world … we could not do what we do without the assistance of the Renodin Foundation or other groups like it,” McCole remarked.
Other highlights of the meeting included special remembrances of late board member Gail Sweitzer and financial advisor Jim Alund Sr.
Linda Pepperdine, board member and sister-in-law of Sweitzer, spoke of the contributions of Sweitzer and Alund to the foundation. She also recognized Sweitzer’s children, Pat and Lynn Sweitzer; and Alund’s children, John and Jim Alund Jr., who were in attendance.
The program was wrapped up by Laura Whitford, president of the foundation, who thanked the large group for attending and reminded them of the opportunities to donate, or learn more about the Renodin Foundation online. She also encouraged agencies in need of help to reach out to the foundation.
“We welcome new grantees,” Whitford said, noting grants are awarded twice a year. “If you know somebody (in need of a grant) we can’t always guarantee anything, but we can guarantee that somebody will have a chance.”
The morning event was concluded by everyone joining together to recite the prayer for peace as the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany do every day. READ MORE
To view more photos from the event, click HERE.
Laura Whitford, president of the Renodin Foundation, and Charles McCole, president of the board of the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift store, stand amongst the wares at 441 N. Union St. in Olean. The board recently received a $2,000 grant from the Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation to aid the thrift store.