Neighbors Foundation sends thanks

Thu, Jan 22nd 2026 12:25 pm

Submitted by the Neighbors Foundation of Grand Island

The Neighbors Foundation of Grand Island thanks the hundreds of individuals and organizations who contributed to our successful 2025 holiday distribution. One hundred and ten of your neighbor families were helped with food baskets and, where appropriate, gift cards for 152 children; 73 of our seniors were also helped in two senior apartment complexes.

The Neighbors Foundation is a small, all-volunteer organization; we don't do this “ourselves.” We depend on the community to recognize the need around us, and respond generously. Even in pleasant, suburban Grand Island, there are needs, and you have helped. Thanks to all of you!

Our thanks to the following businesses, organizations and individuals who donated to our “Share Your Happiness” fund drive, or donated food, toiletries, turkeys and gift cards for our 2025 holiday season distribution:

DONORS:

716 Giving Day
William & Lisa Ackendorf
Bonnie Albrecht
Toni Amantia
Anderson's Frozen Custard
Richard & Bridget Anderson
Anonymous
Chris Aronica
Michael Asbach
Jim and Nancy Attard
Robert Austin
Nancy Aydelotte
Phyllis Baker
Jared & Barbara Barlow
Paul & Judith Bassette
Deborah Beis
Raymond & Debbie Billica
John & Carol Blair
Keith Bogdan
Deborah Bota
Bridgeview Garden Club
Stephanie Brown
Kimberly Buerger
Buffalo Friends of Folk Music, Nan & Keith Hoffman, Joe Tumino
Buffalo Launch Club
Marcia Burzynski
Anthony & Rose Buscaglia
Linda Bush
Margaret Cala
Andrew & MaryElizabeth Calderon
Beth Cardarella
Salvatore Cardullo
Care A Lot Child Care Center
Jayne Carrig
Adrienne Cassata
Christine Cassert, in honor of Mary Herbst
John Celani
Certified Auto Brokers
Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial Post 9249 in memory of all veterans and auxiliary
Christine A Learman, CPA
Sam Clarke
David & Karen Conboy
Therese & Francis Conway
Vincent Corulli
Marlene & Laura Coughlin
County of Erie
Nancy Davis
John & Christine Decker
Dominic & Elizabeth Defeo
Marcella DiPasquale
Jerry & Diane Doane
Thomas & Michele Drabik
Eajaz Syed Family Giving Fund
Margaret Ehlenfield
Ellden's staff at pancake breakfast
Stanley & Baynham Ellson
Empire Dismantlement Corp.
Eric H. Berger Insurance
Julie Beth Estenoz
Anne Fahning
Jamie Ferrie
Heather Figler
Kevin Flaherty/Art of Taxidermy NY
Jacqueline Foote
Kathleen Franz
Christine Freeland
Fresenius Kabi USA
Friends of Annie Carlson
Valerie Gaydosh
Nicole Gerber/Dave Reilly in memory of Hank Kammerer
Eilene Gerbrian
John Gibney
Daniel Gietz
David & Sally Goris
Stephanie Goris
Alan Govern
Grand Island American Legion Post
Grand Island Central School District payroll deductions
Grand Island Central School District students & staff
Grand Island Golden Age Center
Grand Island Senior High DECA club
Grand Island Senior InterAct club
Grand Island Senior student council
Grand Island Senior High yearbook club
Grand Island Lions Club
Grand Island Town Hall employees
Greater Buffalo Track Club
James Greer
Mike Greer
Daniel Griggs
Carol Hamm
Jeffrey & Kristyna Hassler
Katherine Hastings & Catherine Rayhill
Frances Havens
Lee & Mary Herbst
Kathleen Hillman
Mary Hinkle
Sarah Hinrichs
Thomas Hodick
Caroline Boron Honsberger
Charles & Carol Horrigan
Huth Road Elementary Early InterAct club
Amanda Janik
Laura & Raimondi Janik
James Joyner
JPMC Foundation
Kaegebein Elementary Early InterAct club
Lynn Kahn
Richard & Kathleen Karpie
Kiddo’s Korner day care Families
Norman & Susan Kilb
Lisa Kladke
Joseph & Sandra Knab
Richard and Sheryl Knab
Ryan Kneidinger
Jennifer Kopf
Paul & Marian Koppmann
Frank & Kathleen Kovacs
Janelle Krupp
Robert Kucharski
Peter & Beverly Kuszczak
Bob Lamb
Emily Langworthy & Brownie Troop 31023
Deb Laramee
Arlene Larry
Gail Lazenby
Lori Lewandowski
Frederick & Debra LosKamp
Judie Lovato
Thomas Luescher
Jodi Luisi
M&T Bank
Megan MacConkey
Maguire Chevrolet of Grand Island
John & Jenna Majewski
Amber Maras
Corey Maras
Robert & Elaine Marinucci
Robert & Elsie Martino
Krystina McDonnell
Paula McDonnell
Daniel McMahon
Wendy Menter
Bob Merritt
Michelle Mesmer
Jay & Joann Mileham
Patrick Miller
Daniel Mohr
Moose Lodge
Trisha Mortellaro
Anthony & Nancy Morth
Arthur Morth
Patricia Murphy
Niagara Sailing Club
Nickel City Hardwood
Northwest Bank Foundation
Lynn Noworyta
Occasions by Osteria
OurGeneration LLC
Angelo & Rosalie Palamuso
Frank and Colleen Perno
Samuel & Dominique Petrie
Robert Piatek
Paulette Pierce
Stephen & Karen Piershalski
Pinnacle Island LLC
John & Joanne Podlucky
Gary & Stephanie Pritchard
Sheri Lynn Pulvino
Richard & Heidi Ray
Donnette Rayhill
Richard & Susan Nicol
Jodi Robinson
Brian Rochford
Gary & Carol Roesch
Rotary Club of Grand Island
Rotary International
Jean Roth
Jacqueline Royal
Brian Runions
Gene Runions in memory of Larry and Shirley Runions
Todd Runions
Gregory & Kristin Ryan
Tamara Salczynski
Sandy Beach Farm Store and Bakery
Mary Schultz
Lois Schwabl
John Braun & Mary Scott
Kathryn Shaklee
Deborah Sharon
Scott Shaw
Barbara Sherman
Sidway PTA
Mrs. M. Simone
Joseph & Carol Simpson
Paul & Christine Sipson
Kevin Slachciak, Say Cheese Pizza
Gary & Terrie Sledziewski
Nathaniel Slotiuk
Larry & Mary Slovick
Kathy Smith
Darlene Sprague
St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church parishioners
St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church parishioners
St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church parishioners
Maureen Steck
Mark Steinberg
Barbara Sullivan
Pamela Suszczynski
Thompson Farms
Gerald Tidd
Mark & Dianne Tiede, in memory of Bud Figler
L A Titran
Top Notch Sewer & Drain Cleaning
Total Quality Logistics
Heidi Travagline
Emilie Trest
Trinity Church Grand Island parishioners
Robert & Margaret Tyrrell
United Way
Nicholas E. Vaylen
Robin Vertino
VFW Auxiliary in memory of all veterans & auxiliary members
Thomas Vogel
Thompson Farms
Veronica Conner Middle DECA club
Veronica Conner Middle InterAct club
Janice Wegrzynowski
Heather Weibel
Norline Wild
Women's Club of Grand Island
Jennifer Woroniecki
Kelly & Patrick Yanes
Zonta Club of Grand Island

We thank the following businesses and organizations that housed our bins and collected food:

Century 21
Dollar General (Love Road)
Dollar General (Grand Island Plaza)
Grand Island Dance Studio
Grand Island Memorial Library
Grand Island Post Office
Grand Island Town Hall
HUNT Real Estate
Hybrid Defense
Island Body Works
Island Kids North day care
Island Kids South day care
Island Pet Lodge
Island Ship Center
Leaf, Stone & Steel
Mallwitz's Bowling Lanes
Maguire Auto Dealerships
Moose Lodge No. 180
Pickleball Island
St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church
Thompson Farms
Trilogy (The MOG)
VFW Auxiliary, in memory of all veterans and auxiliary members
VFW Post No. 9249
Walgreens Pharmacy
WellNow Urgent Care

Let's not forget our volunteers who supported our mission during our 2025 holiday distribution and various times throughout 2025:

Carley & Michael Antonelli
Marcondes Aquiar
Kathy Bates
MaryPat Bella
Chris Beyer
Beth Boron
Samantha Buccini & sons
Frank Burkhardt
Annie Carlson
Sara, Andrew, Matthew Carlson & Talia Crisafuli
Sean Carroll
Brian Castner
Elijah Castner
Jarred Clark
Linda Clark
David & Karen Conboy
Clare Conboy
David James Conboy
Anne Dietterich
Gail Dorsey
Dan Emanuele
Henny Ensminger
Marion Fabiano
Anne Fahning
Mary Ferber
Dave Forster
Nick Galligan
Ariana Garbacz
Alex Garey
Diane & John Garey
Hayden Garey
Valerie Gaydosh
Ann & Gary Giancola
Kevin Girasole
Gary Golembiewski
David & Sally Goris
Grand Island Central School District maintenance staff
Allynn Greene
Lindsay Greer
Mike Greer
Ken Hamm
Isledegrande, including Reg Schopp and Jodi Robinson
Noah Jablonski
Robyn Jablonski
Kathi James
Richard Karpie
Dave Khreis
Knights of Columbus No. 4752 members
Cindy Kovacs
Corina Labin
Peg & Mike Lacki
Eileen LaMarca
Arlene Larry
Aiden Larsen
Donna Lavallee
David Louth
Amber Maras
Phil Mariani
Paul Minton
Lily & Melissa Nesselbeck
Niagara Frontier Publications, including Colleen Rebmann and Joshua Maloni
Sue Nicol
Jim Niland
Claudia & Kevin O’Neil
Candy Padowski
Colleen Perno
Olivia Porretta
Ryan Rai
Rachel, Logan, Natalie & Nick Reed
Gene Runions
Nancy Savoy
Loretta Serra
Leo Schmidt
Lois Schuehl
Maggie Schultz
Loretta Serra
Patricia & Scott Shaw
Judy Siehnel
Mary Skibinski
Larry & Mary Slovick
April Smith
Linda Snyder
Amanda Thompson
Heidi Travagline
Rebekah Varnell
Ray Weldy
All other volunteers who generously donated their time during the year!

Our special thanks also to the very hard-working students and advisers from DECA, Interact and student council at the high school, Interact and DECA at the middle school, and Huth and Kaegebein Early Act for their help in collecting, shopping, and sorting food to make our 2025 holiday distribution a success: