Bonny Scott-Sleight has been named executive director of St. Susan Center. She will replace outgoing executive director Jeff Smith.

Scott-Sleight is a 30-year resident of Jamestown who brings 20 years of nonprofit experience to her role as executive director, offering expertise in employee and volunteer leadership, program management and fundraising.

Her past experiences include working for Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. as director of the Chautauqua Child Care Council, Children and Family Services and Head Start.

Scott-Sleight said she is committed to developing and leading programs that enrich the community and advance the wellbeing of those in need.

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Originally airing Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017.

WRFA public affairs director Jason Sample talks with Jeff Smith and Katie Murdock from the St. Susan Center in Jamestown to learn more about the organization’s needs this holiday season, along with two important promotions – The Community Holiday Haul (December 15-17) and the Three Sisters Soup sale.

St. Susan Center Executive Director Jeff Smith, surrounded by some of the baskets for the 2017 St. Susan Center Basket Fair.

St. Susan Center is proud to announce their 14th Annual Welcome Spring Basket Fair!  Doors open at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 1st at the Jamestown Community College Physical Education Building on Curtis Street in Jamestown. You’ll have three hours to check out the valuable door prizes, visit with friends, enjoy delicious food, bid on a wide selection of wonderful baskets, and learn more about how our local soup kitchen benefits the Jamestown area community.

For $10 you will get 12 Basket Tickets and 2 Door Prize Tickets; or for only $20 you can buy a Super Sheet of tickets that includes 30 Basket Tickets and 4 Door Prize Tickets. Tickets will be available until 1:45 p.m.  Winning tickets will be drawn starting at 2:00 p.m.

You’ll have several dozen baskets and gift certificates to choose from including baskets for chocolate lovers, baskets for men, and fun baskets for children along with many wonderful baskets for the ladies.  There are three Grand Prizes this year valued at $500 each.

Throughout the Fair St. Susan Center will have lots of food items on sale at the “Comfort Café,”  including pulled pork sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, soups, salads, desserts and a variety of beverages.

The Kids’ Corner will be open the entire time for children to keep busy and have fun.

Music will be provided by Prime Time DJ service, spinning sounds that everyone wants to hear.

“Every basket and gift certificate represents the generosity of individuals, churches, businesses and organizations who have donated to help raise money for our soup kitchen.  St. Susan Center continues to make a difference in Jamestown through the kindness and generosity of the community.   We want to thank Jamestown Awning and Wegmans for being this year’s Basket Fair sponsors,” said Executive Director Jeffrey Smith.

For more information about the Basket Fair please call 716-664-2253, or visit St. Susan Center’s Facebook page or website at stsusancenter.org.

As part of the collection effort, local resident and Jamestown Community College athletic director Keith Martin is stationed to collect items for the soup kitchen.

Donations can be made from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 18.

In addition to cash donations, St. Susan executive director Jeff Smith says other items are needed, including:

• 100% Fruit Juice
• Saltine Crackers
• Canned Fruit
• Laundry detergent (All or Era)
• Dawn dish soap
• Paper towels
• Plastic spoons
• Copy Paper
• Metal Forks
• Metal Spoons
• Mens Gloves.

All of the items are available at Sam’s Club. Gift cards to Wegman’s and Sam’s Club are also needed.

As of Thursday, St. Susan Center has served 113,602 meals in 2016 on its way to 125,000 by year’s end. That total is up about 5,000 meals from last year (119,831) and about 45,000 meals more than were served seven years ago.

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Executive Director Jeff Smith was a guest on this week’s Community Matters program and provided more details on the event. According to Smith, for the admission price of $10, guests will be treated not only to an evening of live musical entertainment, but a meal consisting of specialty soups.

“You can have a wonderful meal. The soup will be prepared by chef Carrie Gifford of Murdock’s Restaurant (Sherman, NY) and the Hotel Atheneum (Chautauqua Institution) and Bill Ward and Amanda Barton, two wonderful musicians, will be coming down to the center and playing for a couple of hours to entertain our guests.”

The Soup menu will include:

• Roasted Garlic, Parsnip and White Bean Soup
• Stuffed Pepper Soup
• Chicken Wing Soup
• Potato Soup
• Broccoli Cheese Soup

Soup and a Song will take place on Saturday at St. Susan Center, located at 31 Water St. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the entertainment beginning shortly after and playing until 8 p.m. Tickets are $ 10 at the door. Tickets for children 12 and under are $5.

Proceeds from the event will benefit St. Susan Center, which provided nearly 120,000 meals for its guests in 2015.

According to St. Susan executive director Jeff Smith, the organization has already provided 117,000 meals in 2015… with a projection of 120,000 by the end of the year. That’s compared to 116 ,000 meals provided in 2014.

Members of the St. Susan Center Board of Directors stand with several baskets that will be featured at this year’s basket fair on Saturday, April 18, 2015.

JAMESTOWN – St. Susan Center will hold its 12th Annual Spring Ahead Basket Fair on Saturday, April 18 at Jamestown Community College’s Physical Education Building (Curtis Street, Jamestown NY).

The event begins at 11 a.m. with three hours to check out the beautiful prizes, visit with friends, buy tickets, choose baskets, and learn more about Jamestown’s soup kitchen.

For a $10 admission fee, participants will receive two free door prize tickets and 12 basket tickets or $5 for 6 tickets. Throughout the event extra tickets will be available.

There are over 95 unique baskets and gift certificates, such as:

• baskets for chocolate lovers
• baskets for men
• fun baskets for children
• baskets for the ladies.

There are 2 Grand prizes and a Mega-Mystery Prize valued at $1,500.  Look for clues on the St. Susan Facebook page.

St. Susan Center will have lots of food items on sale at a very reasonable price! Sponsors of this year’s event are Northwest Savings Bank.  The kids’ corner will be open the entire time for children to keep busy making crafts and having fun.

Host for the event is Rev. Dayle Keefer from Fluvanna Community Church, who will begin announcing the winners at 2 p.m.

“Every basket and every gift certificate represents individuals, churches, businesses and organizations who have generously donated to help raise money for the soup kitchen.  Our hope is that the community will support the businesses who have donated to St. Susan Center”, says Jeffrey Smith, Executive Director.

Reservations are currently being accepted for parties of eight or more. For further information call St. Susan Center at 664-2253 ext. 4.

St. Susan Center continues to make a difference in Jamestown through the kindness and generosity of the community. For more information about the Basket Fair visit our Facebook page or visit our website at stsusancenter.org.