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GREECE, N.Y. — As the community watches and waits to see what happens with food benefits, local businesses are stepping up to help by putting together food drives and “take-what-you-need” pantries.
Mollie Recktenwale, owner of “Go Frost Yourself” bakery, shared her motivation for getting involved.
“Part of being a staple in a community is serving that community. Whether I’m serving you food or helping you out, that’s still serving,” said Recktenwale.
Her bakery has already begun collecting donations, including bandages, diapers, and non-perishable items.
“Things are more expensive. You know, we don’t know what benefits are going to do. And we want to be able to kind of do our best to give back to the people that give to us as well,” said Recktenwale.
It’s not just food related businesses looking to help. The Lyell Ave Smoke Shop has also started its own food drive.
“So I, we were watching the news, looking on Facebook and seeing everybody talk about losing their benefits, and it just popped in my head,” said Owner Rae Ann Mastrodonato.
Mastrodonato says donations are being accepted at all four smoke shop locations, with goods distributed from the Lyell Ave location on Nov. 5 after 11 a.m.
Mastrodonato says this isn’t the first time they’ve stepped in to help the community.
“We always try to give back to our community. We did it during Covid, and so here was another catastrophe that we thought we should jump in and help too,” said Mastrodonato.
Here is a list of some businesses accepting donations:
- FlynnStoned Cannabis Company — 714 W Ridge Rd.
- Capone’s Italian Eatery — 1811 Penfield Rd.
- Archivist Books (Has food pantry/shelf) — 772 Monroe Ave.
- Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters (Has food pantry/shelf) — 3349 Monroe Ave
- Go Frost Yourself (Has food pantry/shelf) — 2544 Ridgeway Ave
- Lyell Ave Smoke Shops – 1105 Lyell Ave, 720 Elmgrove Rd, 2777 Dewey Ave, 453 Lyell Ave
