May 25, 2023
Categories: community, In the Community
By Dawn Kellogg
With average attendance of over 250,000 people, Taste of Syracuse is the biggest two-day event in Central New York and The Summit has been the title sponsor since 2017. Each year, two local charities are named to be the beneficiaries of the event.
This year’s event will raise funds for two Central New York organizations, each working to make a difference in the lives of area children: Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and PEACE Inc. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Onondaga County.
The Summit, along with presenting sponsor Tops Friendly Markets, will be working with other sponsors and vendors to raise our goal of $10,000 for these great charities all weekend long.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Child bedlessness may not be a real word, but it is a real problem. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is made up of a group of volunteers dedicated to building, assembling, and delivering beds to children (ages 3-17) in need in the greater Syracuse and Oswego City area. They believe in sharing the need with the community and then providing ways for the community to help meet that need. This all-volunteer organization has delivered over 3600 beds and counting since their first delivery on October 6th, 2018.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace is dependent on and designed around community involvement, providing an opportunity for the community to come together and embrace children in need. You can help build a bed for a child! Their builds are designed with everyone in mind. It’s easy and it’s fun. Builds and deliveries provide a great opportunity for families, corporate team building, and service projects.
Whether it’s helping at a Build Day or on a Delivery Day, they have something for everyone. Not only are events fun, they are rewarding. A few hours of your time will mean the world to a child sleeping in an unfavorable condition.
In addition to volunteers, Sleep in Heavenly Peace also accepts monetary donations, and donations of new bedding.
PEACE, Inc. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Onondaga County
PEACE, Inc. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Onondaga County helps children who face adversity, change their perspectives, and give them the opportunity to reach their potential in life.
Since 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is incredible potential. As the nation’s largest donor- and volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 5 through young adulthood in communities across the country. PEACE Inc. takes in new littles in the 8-15 age range. However, “Littles” are eligible to stay in the program until they turn 19.
Independent research shows Big Brothers Big Sisters has a measurable, positive impact in children’s lives. In a nationwide study, Little Brothers and Little Sisters were:
- 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
- 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
- 52% less likely to skip school
- 37% less likely to skip a class
- more confident of their performance in schoolwork
Through community, school and workplace mentoring programs, PEACE Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters of Onondaga County currently serves 150 “Littles” each year and is always looking for “Bigs” who want to share their time and talents to develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of area young people. PEACE Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters is always in need of “Bigs” and the need for male volunteers far exceeds the need for female volunteers.
As a local credit union committed to supporting Syracuse and Central New York, we love to sponsor events such as this that make our region so special and unique,” said Twanda Christensen, Vice President of Marketing and Community Engagement for The Summit Federal Credit Union. “Please stop by our tent for fun activities and contests. All money raised goes directly to PEACE Inc. Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Both charities strengthen our communities and make a difference in the lives of area children and families.”
Can’t make it to Taste of Syracuse, but want to donate to these two great charities? Click here today:
Sleep in Heavenly Peace: visit shpnysyr.org, or call (315) 710-0598 for info on how you can help a child have a comfortable place to lay their head.
PEACE, Inc. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Onondaga County: visit: www.peace-caa.org/programs/bbbs or call (315) 470-3300 for info on how you can donate or sign up to be a volunteer.
Dawn Kellogg is the Public Relations and Community Engagement Specialist for The Summit Federal Credit Union