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New York: Small Church Raises Millions for Local Food Program Ministry

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Passionately committed to providing food programs for those living under the poverty line around them, a small church in Albany, New York has been able to raise $2 million to expand its building facility as it now serves thousands of meals a year, The Roys Report (TRR) said in a report.

St. John’s Episcopal Church in Albany serves Johnstown and Fulton County, where nearly 15% of the population earns less than $30,000 annually for a family of four, TRR said. The church has a Sunday attendance of around 100 people.

The St. John’s expansion work has included buying the building next door to house its ever growing food ministry, and this second building was named for its address: One Church Street, TRR said.

An original renovation estimated at $1.5 million increased to more than $3 million primarily because of the rise in costs due to the COVID-19. However, with $2 million already raised, the church is expecting the remainder to come in, and is hoping to complete the necessary renovations by Easter 2024.

In a statement, St. John’s rector, Rev. Laurie Garramone, said the final $1 million will serve to create a large dining room and commercial kitchen for the Sunday noon meal, so the church can provide more than the 400-plus meals it currently serves monthly. The funds will also be used to install an elevator and to create a second-floor multipurpose space that will be available for use by the community. “People could have bridal showers there, or birthday parties,” Garramone told Episcopal News Service.