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The Bulletin -- July 28, 2010 (#1050)
Program: Bruce Garcia, CEO of JCEO The Joint Council for Economic Opportunity (JCEO) is Clinton County’s Community Action Agency. Bruce Garcia has been at the helm for only two years, but he is a community action veteran of nearly thirty years. Gacia served as Deputy Director at JCEO for fifteen years before taking over as CEO. “Our mission is simple,” Garcia said. “JCEO provides resources and services that enhance people’s dignity and self-reliance.” He explained that those coming to JCEO are low income working people who don’t have the luxury of a savings account. When a car accident, illness or injury strikes, it creates a financial crisis that leaves families, seniors and children in serious trouble. The programs offered at JCEO give people the help they need in a way that respectfully promotes self-reliance. JCEO is often incorrectly associated with the Department of Social Services, but the two are not connected. While they both provide programs that assist those in crisis, at JCEO, 96% of the people served have jobs. They work every day, sometimes two or three jobs to make ends meet. Of that 96%, almost 50% recieve income entirely from those jobs. The second largest population served is senior citizens trying get by on a fixed income. Garcia highlighted one of the agency’s new developments with their Food Shelves. One of the benefits of JCEO’s food shelf program is that that they have eleven different centers. They are able to get food to people who may not have transportation to travel all the way into Plattsburgh. Garcia explined that through new partnerships with Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, Yando’s and Aldi’s, JCEO recieved over 106,000 pounds of food to suppliment the shelves.
In its second full year, White Pine Commons housing development was also highlighted by Garcia. WPC is at 100% occupancy, has had a very low turnover rate and has really blossomed into the community envisioned by JCEO’s former Executive Director, Gordon Hazel. JCEO is pleased to be able to provide 32 safe, affordable homes to families in need. Although there is still a serious need for additional housing communities such as White Pine Commons, Garcia does not foresee JCEO pursing additional phases to the project. For more information about the services and programs provided to your community, visit JCEO’s website: www.jceo.org or contact Bruce Garcia at 561-6310. Visiting Rotarians: Charlie Lewis (Naples FL) Guests: Bruce Garcia (Maria Alexander) Announcements:
Colin’s Cash:
50/50: Jim Judkins took a chance at the queen of hearts but was unlucky this time. There are 45 cards left. Another Candle Burning For: Ron Malseptic (8/4) and Don Green (8/6).    | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
