News Release - Mayor Warren Cuts Ribbon on Food Pantry at Edison Tech

City of Rochester

News Release

(Monday, June 21, 2021) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren was joined today by Rochester City School District Superintendent Dr. Lesli Myers-Small, Edison Career and Technology High School Principal Jacob Scott, William & Sheila Konar Foundation Program Director, Dr. Marilynn Patterson Grant and The Church of Love Faith Center's Pastor Terrance Youmans and Mrs. Glenda L. Youmans to celebrate the grand opening of a food pantry at Edison.

In addition to the Edison food pantry, six other city community schools established food pantries thanks to a $20,000 grant from the William & Sheila Konar Foundation. The grant was used to purchase refrigerators, shelving, bins and food at the following city school based food pantries:

  • John Walton Spencer School No. 16
  • Dr. Charles T. Lunsford School No. 19
  • Henry Hudson School No. 28
  • Joseph C. Wilson Academy School No. 68
  • Franklin Upper School
  • Leadership Academy for Young Men

“I am very proud to join with the RCSD and our faith and business communities to address the food disparities that far too many of our children are living with,” said Mayor Warren. “Through our partnerships, we are transforming the systems that support our students and our schools as a whole and these food pantries will provide an additional sense of security for many, many families. I want to thank the William & Sheila Konar Foundation for their generosity to our most valuable gems – our children.”

The project is the result of the Business in Action – Adopt a School initiative, a partnership of the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services, the Rochester City School District and the local business and faith communities, designed to facilitate connections between schools and businesses to provide students with food and other essential items.

“We are extremely grateful to the William & Sheila Konar Foundation for supporting our children and families,” said Dr. Myers-Small. “Proper nutrition is critical not only for a healthy body but also for a healthy mind. This partnership embodies what can be accomplished with the true spirit of teamwork. It fills me with great hope to see our community coming together to raise up city families."

“We are changing lives for the better because the students at these schools won't have to worry about where their next meal will come from, and therefore, they can learn more effectively,” said Pastor Youmans. “The Church of Love Faith Center invites all houses of worship and businesses to come on board in partnership with one of our schools to help stock even more pantries and to help keep our students fed and healthy.”

Houses of Worship who want to become involved the Faith in Action Adopt a School initiative can visit cityofrochester.gov/adoptaschool/

The Business in Action – Adopt a School initiative encourages other leaders in the Rochester business community to use this program as a vehicle to provide support to city students and families. Businesses interested in participating may contact Tracey Miller, Assistant to the Mayor, by email at Tracey.Miller@CityofRochester.gov or call (585) 428-6684. For more information about Business in Action – Adopt a School, visit cityofrochester.gov/BusinessinAction.

To learn more about the William & Sheila Konar Foundation, visit konarfoundation.org.

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