CoNSERNS-U

A Place at the Table 2024: THANK YOU! To our donors, our sponsors, the individuals who came to our breakfast, and anyone who shared our message through social media or just simply word of mouth, THANK YOU! YOU ALL play a vital role in our mission.

Welcome to a Place at the Table 2024 A Place at the Table is an event that showcases what we do to address our communities' food insecurity and how Catholic Charities is making a difference.

🎶Friendly Reminder to join us Tomorrow March 9th at 6 PM, for the 10th Annual Dustin Mele Memorial Concert at Revolution Hall in Troy. 🎤

Let's gather for an evening filled with incredible music, laughter, and fond memories. The proceeds will go in Dustin's memory to Rensselaer County Mental Health Intervention Services through the Catholic Charities CoNSERNS-U program, the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention (AFSP), and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). 🤝💙

Can't make it in person? You can still contribute and make a difference! Click the link below to donate and show your support for mental health initiatives:

🌐 Donate Here: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/_1rZ2g?vid=13uvoy

Your generosity matters, and together we can make a positive impact in our community. Let's honor Dustin's legacy and raise awareness for mental health. 🙌🎵

See you there or feel free to contribute online! 🎉 🕊️

🎶 Join us for a night of music and support some wonderful causes!

📅 Save the Date: March 9th
🎤Dustin Mele Memorial Concert

We're thrilled to be a part of this incredible event, where the power of music meets the spirit of giving. Come together with friends and family for a memorable evening filled with fantastic tunes, good company, and the opportunity to make a positive impact.

CoNSERNS-U is proud to be one of the causes benefiting from this concert. Your support means the world to us as we continue our mission to make a difference in the community. Every note played and every moment shared helps us in our efforts to create positive change.

Mark your calendars, spread the word, and let's make this night one to remember! 🎶

Please join us for the 10th Annual Dustin Mele Memorial Concert, Saturday, March 9, 2024, 6pm at Brown’s Revolution Hall, 425 River St. Troy, NY 12180. (PLEASE SHARE!)

An evening full of music to benefit su***de prevention and mental health intervention services.

We’re planning a special musical line-up to mark 10 years, with Super 400 and guest Tommy Love; The Memorial Concert All Star Band featuring the Rob Beaulieu Band and special guests Chris Bu**ne, Matt Hatfield, Chris Garabedian, Dave Max, Joe Mele, Tom Murphy, Evelyn Murphy, Tony Perrino and Julian Wenacur.

Proceeds from the Memorial Concert will support three organizations, the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention (AFSP); National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and Rensselaer County mental health and emergency assistance programs through Catholic Charities CoNSERNS-U program, all in memory of Dustin.

Over 550 attended the Memorial Concert last year, and helped us break a $120,000 mark in fundraising over the past 9 years, thanks to the generous support of our community, donors and sponsors.
A veteran of more than 50 years on the local and national music circuit, Joe Mele lost his son Dustin to su***de in 2013 and rallied the area’s elite musicians to raise awareness of the growing su***de problem. Dustin’s friends and family believe that with erasing the stigma of depression and making proper mental health care more easily available, lives can be saved. Su***de is at epidemic proportions and touches more and more lives and families every day.

The American Foundation for Su***de Prevention (AFSP) has credited the Dustin Mele Memorial Concert as the top fund-raiser in upstate New York for AFSP’s largest annual event, Walk for R.I.T.A., which raises money for su***de awareness, su***de prevention and family support programs. Recently, NAMI New York State presented Dustin’s family and the Memorial Concert Event with their highest honor Storyteller award.

This year’s Dustin Mele Memorial Concert event is sponsored in part by Brown’s Brewing; Chris Garabedian Custom Clothing, Clark Courier Services, D.O.B Parkinson’s Charity, Fagan Associates, Guth DeConzo Consulting Engineers, PC; Live Sound Inc.; Modern Press; Parkway Music; RadioRadioX; Screen Designs Inc.; Squared Home Inspections; the Bourgault/Sroka Families; and Verrillo Motor Car Company.

Can’t make the concert but want to make a donation? Here are links to donate in Dustin’s name:
AFSP: (click on a team member to donate) https://supporting.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.team&teamID=336638&fbclid=IwAR21EifhsnyyKW4TXIs3unQIG2k4PKxvehf-d4UawabNvCWp0U9ZeRkFkVU

NAMI: https://namicapitalregionny.org/10th-annual-dustin-mele.../

Catholic Charities: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/_1rZ2g?vid=13uvoy

On behalf of Dustin’s family and friends, and all those who will be helped through these wonderful benefiting organizations, we hope you will join us. Thank you for your support!

Giving Tuesday 2023 Event I’m a proud supporter of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany. It is doing amazing things and I encourage you to support them as well. Find out more about their event : https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/-DM97g

🌟 Exciting News! Our special month with two opportunities to benefit is starting soon! 🌟

Throughout the month of October, CoNSERNS-U will receive support from your purchases at the located at 180 Delaware Avenue, Delmar NY. Here's how you can make a difference:

1️⃣ For every $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag you buy, $1 will be donated to CoNSERNS-U. It's a small cost for a big impact! 🛒💙

2️⃣ Additionally, when you purchase a Hannaford Snack Pal Plate for just $2.50, CoNSERNS-U will receive $0.25 from each plate sold. Look out for these special 2/$5 plates in displays in the store's produce section. 🍏🍽️

Your support means the world to us, and it's an easy way to help those in need in our community. Let's make this October a month of giving! 🤗❤️

📢📦 WE MOVED!

As of September 1st, our Food Pantry is now located at:

📌201 Academy St. Rensselaer, NY 12144

Our mailing address: ( PO Box 28 Rensselaer NY 12144) & phone number will remain the same.

📢 Volunteers Needed to Extend Food Pantry Hours! 🙏

CoNSERNS-U is seeking afternoon volunteers to help extend our food pantry hours for one day a week. With the growing demand for assistance, we're striving to ensure that no one has to wait days to receive essential food supplies.

🕒When: Wednesdays from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM.

🛒Where: Our NEW location @ 201 Academy St Rensselaer NY 12144

🤝Interested in Volunteering? Here's What to Do:

Reach out to John at CoNSERNS-U via email at [email protected] or call (518) 463-8571

We can't do this without your support! If you have the availability and are willing to make a difference, we would be incredibly grateful. 💕

Join us tomorrow!

THANK YOU to Diamond Investment Services for being a Confidence Builder for this year’s A Place at the Table!
Want to learn how you can help feed our neighbors in need?
Join us on May 2nd for our day of giving at https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/Table23

A Place at the Table - 2023 Virtual Fundraising Event!

Thanks so much and Happy Birthday to Carter! Carter asked for donations instead of gifts for his birthday this year and dropped off what he collected to us this morning!! 🥰🎁🎉

Please Join Us! Listen to some great music while supporting a wonderful cause. 🎶🎵🎶

Join us for the 9th Annual Dustin Mele Memorial Concert, Saturday, March 25, 6-10pm, Brown’s Revolution Hall, 425 River St, Troy. $20 minimum suggested donation at the door.

Each year over 400 people attend the event. This year, world renowned musician and producer Robert Etoll will be flying in from Los Angeles for a special reunion of the Bob Etoll Band. Area favorite bands including Emerald City, Soul Sky and Super 400 will also be performing along with special guests.

Proceeds from the Memorial Concert will support three organizations, the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention (AFSP); National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and Rensselaer County mental health and emergency assistance programs through Catholic Charities CoNSERNS-U program, all in memory of Dustin.

The Bob Etoll Band is led by Robert (Bobby) Etoll, a longtime resident of Los Angeles and founder of the widely acclaimed Q-Factory Music library which serves clients worldwide in the motion picture and television advertising industry. Robert is one of the world’s leading composers and music producers of trailers, documentaries, TV theme songs and animated series. Bobby grew up in Troy and is thrilled to return to reunite with his old bandmates Peter Iselin, Chris Garabedian, Joe Montarello, Frank Rossi, as well as some notable special guests, in support of the Memorial Concert.

Other top local musicians performing include Mark Emanatian, Jeremy Walz, Joe Mele, Tom Dolan, Jeff Prescott, Joe Daley, Kenny Hohman, Lori Friday, Gary Tash, Ed Powers, Gary & Dave Sagendorf, Tommy Love, Scotty Mac, Matt Mirabile, Tony Perrino, Johnny Rabb, Sean Matthew Whiteford, Chris Sanders, Kyle Bourgault & more.

A veteran of more than 45 years on the local music circuit, Dustin’s father Joe Mele rallied the area’s elite musicians to raise awareness of the growing su***de problem. Dustin’s friends and family believe that with erasing the stigma of depression and making proper mental health care more easily available, lives can be saved. Su***de is at epidemic proportions and touches more and more lives and families every day. Over the past 9 years, the Mele family has gone above and beyond to try to bring awareness and assistance to those who are struggling in the Capital Region.

This year’s Dustin Mele Memorial Concert event is sponsored in part by Brown’s Brewing; The Catholic Monument Design Center; DrywallXchange; Fagan Associates; Guth DeConzo Consulting Engineers, PC; Live Sound Inc.; Modern Press; Nippertown; RadioRadioX, Screen Designs Inc., and Verrillo Motor Car Co.

Can’t attend but wish to make a donation? Online donations can be made to any or all 3 benefiting organizations:

Catholic Charities Dustin Mele Memorial Fund: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/_1rZ2g?vid=x2ayh

AFSP Dustin Mele Memorial Concert: https://supporting.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.team&teamID=311739

NAMI Capital Region: https://namicapitalregionny.org/get-involved/donate/. Don’t forget to mention the Mele Memorial Fund so we can add it to our Fund list and send a thank you!

For more information on the Annual Dustin Mele Memorial Concert, visit our page: https://www.facebook.com/DustinMeleMemorial.

On behalf of Dustin’s family and friends, and all those who will be helped through this year’s benefiting organizations, we hope to see you March 25th, and thank you for your support!

We have lots of kids hats, gloves, mittens, and jackets!! If you or someone you know is in need of some to get through the rest of this winter season, please call or stop in! If you have questions or would like to schedule a time to stop by you can call John at (518) 463-8571 then press option 3 or dial ext. 126 💕

A HUGE thank you is going out to Sophia! She is a student and has been doing a food collection for our CoNSERNS-U food pantry. This is a picture of her dropping off her second donation.

We are so thankful for the food and toiletries she collected.

If you or someone you know would like to help in any way whether by volunteering or making donations, please feel free to reach out! We can always use your support!

You can call us at (518) 463-8571 ext: 126 or Email John at [email protected]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Thank you to everyone who made this year's Christmas season a success.

Please note: CoNSERNS-U will be closed from 12/23-12/26 for the holiday and will reopen at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, 12/27.

🎄With Christmas around the corner, the CoNSERNS-U Christmas store is about to open! Full details can be found below and those interested are asked to email [email protected].

This , your neighbors need you. Today at Catholic Charities, we’re raising money to support people in need, right here in our Diocese.

And we’re thrilled to share that all donations will be matched by Catholic Charities Board of Trustees, up to $25,000 through end of day today, butt he window is closing to have your donation doubled! Join us in by making a gift to Catholic Charities Tri-County Services today.

Your gift will provide heat in homes, food on tables, housing, and so much more to families across the Capital Region this winter. To make a donation, visit bit.ly/CatholicCharitiesGivingTuesday or text ‘Charities22’ to 41444. You can specify Catholic Charities Tri-County Services by choosing it from the dropdown.

CoNSERNS-U underway, preparing for the holiday season!

With the assistance of our wonderful staff/volunteers are we able to continue to meet community needs.
With the need only continuing to grow, as is the need & appreciation for wonderful volunteers.
*To inquire into volunteer opportunities, please phone: 518-512-3577 Ext115* Catholic Charities Tri-County Services

📣 Hey all,
We have 3 desks available for free (picture below), that are looking for a new home. Interested? Call David or Jenny at 518-463-8571.

We could use your help!!
The Food Pantry is in need of household cleaning items and hygiene items to help us support our community.
Please see items listed below...
Laundry Detergent
Hand Soap
Dish Soap
Bar Soap or Liquid soap for bathing
Shampoo and Conditioner
Famine products
Sanitizing wipes for cleaning
Tooth Paste and toothbrushes

Please call 518-463-8571 if you have any questions or would like to donate!

CoNSERNS-U has a limited amount of baby formula available. Please see the photos for brand and type.
If you are in need of formula please call 518-463-8571 ext 124 to arrange pick up.
EDIT: Nutramagen and Enfamil GentleEase are both gone.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany I'm fundraising to support food pantries throughout Albany and Rensselaer county. Please join me in support of A Place at the Table. Find out more and donate here: https://igfn.us/vf/Table22