With farmers across Western New York battling against the economic impact of COVID-19, outdoor farmers markets have remained an important lifeline to the public. In Chautauqua County, local farms reported increased demand for foods like eggs, beef and chicken as the pandemic caused panic buying and hit grocery store supply lines this spring. Local options like the Lakewood Farmers Market, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays, also give residents the opportunity to do some shopping outside in the sunshine. P-J photo by Jay Young

The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities’ 21st annual Cents for St. Susan’s campaign finished its 2020 effort with a total of $18,399.15 raised for the local soup kitchen.

That figure brings the 21-year total of funds raised by the community during the BPU’s “Cents for St. Susan’s” campaigns to $253,335.54.

Major sponsors and volunteers met recently on Zoom to celebrate the amount raised in the 2020 campaign.

BPU and St. Susan Center personnel were on hand for the announcement, to thank major sponsors for going above and beyond this year, to help the soup kitchen financially during the Pandemic. Such donors included: Judy and Steve McAllaster at the $3,000 level; KeyBank at the $2,000 category; and Kwik-Fill and Chautauqua Chemicals Co., Inc. at the $1,000 level. Sponsors of $500 included; Boyles Motor Sales, Century 21/Turner Brokers, Dan and Connie Evans, Falconer Printing and Design, Inc., FreedMaxick Accountants, Heritage Ministries, The Legend Group with Lou Deppas, National Fuel, Northwest Bank, Shults Auto Group, Slone-Melhuish Insurance, Weinberg Financial Group, and Wright, Wright and Hampton Attorneys.

The Post-Journal and the Media One Group of Radio Stations were media sponsors.

“We are grateful to these wonderful donors and to the Jamestown BPU for its efforts to raise funds for our soup kitchen,” said St. Susan Center Executive Director Bonny Scott-Sleight. “This year’s challenges led us to a new method of providing meals, serving approximately 157 people a day. We made and packed carry-out meals for our guests and it has worked well. I want to extend heartfelt thanks to those contributors who assisted us in meeting our goal of feeding all who come to St. Susan Center for our help.”

BPU General Manager David L. Leathers thanked the generous sponsors as well as those people in the community who donated to once again raise a considerable amount of money for the soup kitchen.

“We appreciate so much the continued, noteworthy support of our major sponsors to the BPU fund drive,” continued Leathers. “Our annual campaigns are one way in which we can assist our local residents and customers. We are pleased that we surpassed the $18,000 level, thanks to these incredible people and companies as well as to members of the public who mailed in checks to help us this year.”

BPU Communications Coordinator Becky Robbins, who organizes the drive, stated, “Although we were unable to conduct a regular campaign due to Coronavirus restrictions, we feel more than fortunate that we were able to provide a little more than $18,000 to St. Susan Center. Thanks to all contributors who made that happen.”

Robbins said the bulk of this year’s gifts came from the major sponsors, but redeemable pop cans/bottles brought in nearly $1,000 and a coin canister in one local restaurant totaled $970.

The BPU has conducted fund drives to benefit St. Susan Center since 2000, raising just over a quarter of a million dollars for the soup kitchen during those years.