Community Action Angels
JCEO’s Community Action Angels is a volunteer program made up of caring individuals that want to make a difference in their community. Volunteers work together to develop and implement special projects and programs that will have an impact on the individuals, families, and communities we care about. JCEO’s Community Action Angels program is part of a statewide network of Community Action Angels programs.
Our Mission
Community Action Angels believe that all people in need deserve to be helped and in return should be given the opportunity to help others. Our goal is to identify the needs of the disadvantaged and be pro-active in meeting these needs through volunteerism, collaboration, and partnerships with other private, government, faith-based and community organizations with similar goals.
The Backpack Program
No child should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. That’s why the Backpack Program provides essential weekend meals to children who face chronic hunger. Supporting food-insecure children identified by school personnel, the program serves more than 100 students across Bailey, Oak, Momot, CVES, and Chazy Elementary Schools. The Backpack Program has a meaningful impact, supporting improved physical, cognitive, and social growth in the children it serves.
Running for 30 weeks during the school year, from October through June, each backpack is filled with nutritious, kid-friendly items to sustain children over the weekend. Bags include:
Three entrees
Two breakfast items
One fruit or vegetable
A grain
Snacks
The Backpack Program is made possible through the fundraising efforts of the Community Action Angels. Two major annual events — the Golf Tournament and the Card & Collectible Shows — cover nearly half of the program's cost. Additional funding comes from corporate sponsorships and generous donations from people like you.
In 2023, the cost to sponsor a child for the school year increased from $183 to over $300, reflecting rising food costs.
“My kid loves getting it. He runs outside with the biggest smile.” - Parent of Participating Child
Fostering Komfort
The Fostering Komfort project was born out of the surge of children entering foster care in our region. Our goal is to provide a backpack with comfort items for children entering into foster care or transitioning between foster homes. Each backpack has age-appropriate items so the child can be more comfortable in their new environment. The backpacks are tailored to gender and age so they can be distributed appropriately by the Department of Social Services. We have assembled over 200 backpacks since the start of the project in July 2016 and continue to do so based on need.
We have collaborated with other groups in the area on this project including the Plattsburgh Kiwanis Breakfast Club (who named the project) and the Beekmantown Varsity Boys Hockey Team.
When Hannah took in two foster children and saw they came with their things stuffed in garbage bags, she wanted to do something to help.
Join Us!
The Community Action Angels are always looking for new members and new ways to collaborate with our community. Please use the form below to request more information.
If you’re looking to apply as a volunteer, use this form instead.