Modern Disposal Services, 3F Conservation Society & Niagara Metals raise funds for Pinnacle Community Services

On May 30, the Fin, Feather, and Fur Conservation Society, Modern Disposal Services, and Niagara Metals collaborated to host a successful scrap-metal drive, raising funds for Pinnacle Community Services. A check in the amount of $2,695 was presented Tuesday at the Youngstown 3F Club.

Pinnacle Community Services President & CEO Laura Pennington said, “It is overwhelming how the community comes together and makes such a difference for the people we support within the community.”

Advancement and Communications Officer Morgan Villnave said, “It means a lot to us because, without the community support, we can't do what we do – and it matters so much to the people that we serve that the community's behind them, too, and that's what events like this show.”

Per its website, “Pinnacle Community Services provides a wide range of services to the residents of the Niagara Region. Our services assist people at every stage of the life cycle: expectant parents to parenting the young child; family help during the teen years; and help for youth and adults dealing with mental health or other chronic illness, domestic violence, or the everyday stress of life.”

Villnave explained, “We have four different major programs that all have kind of smaller programs within them. One is our domestic violence services that includes a shelter, as well as wraparound supports for people who maybe don't need shelter or have had shelter, but need other sort of supports, as well, for domestic violence survivors and their families. We also have a youth services program that involves a shelter called Casey House, along with programs like 3-D (‘Dare, Dream, Drive.’) and LEAP, which are both wraparound services that help at-risk youth grow and become the members of society that we know they can be. We also have our Healthy Families Niagara program – that's a really great program that helps new families learn how to parent and support their children from the time that the baby is in utero until the baby is 5 years old. And then we have our care coordination program that helps support people with chronic mental and physical disabilities and illnesses get the services and care that they need.”

Donations like this one make a difference in Pinnacle’s ability to provide services and support.

“We are fundraising all year long,” Villnave said. “We primarily operate off of grants and private funding, so being able to have sustainable sources of income all throughout the year is really important to us.

“These funds will go directly back into our programs right now. It's not that we're holding on to them – they're going to go right into use as quickly as possible, because we always have to buy things, and we always have to spend money.”

Town of Porter Supervisor John “Duffy” Johnston, a 3F participant, cited fellow member Collen Gunther as inspiration for the fundraiser.

He said Gunter “had a bout with domestic abuse, and we wanted to do something in her honor, so we came up with this metal drive.

“She picked the Pinnacle House, that was her choice. There's other ones out there, but she thought that was a great choice. So, we backed her all the way on that. And then our bartender got ahold of her friend at Niagara Metals, and met Chuck. And then Modern gave us three dumpsters. We did it from 9 to 12 on a Saturday, and everybody showed up and made some nice money for it.

“It was all because of her. We wanted to do a fundraiser, and we just thought maybe springtime – clean out your garage, clean out your shed. The timing was perfect for it.

Johnston said 3F members and volunteers collected anything and everything at the scrap-metal drive. He thanked Niagara Metals and Modern Disposal Services for their assistance and generosity.

Gunther said, “I’m a survivor of domestic violence and, in sharing my story with others, I come across so many that have their own story or know someone else affected by domestic violence. When the idea of the 3F Club doing a metal drive to raise money for a domestic violence awareness group was brought up, I was so happy to be a part of it. Resources and outreach have grown so much over the years – and Pinnacle Community Services is such a wonderful organization – and I’m proud of the members of the 3F Club and the surrounding community for helping to raise money for an amazing organization, and for raising awareness regarding domestic violence at the same time.”

Chuck Mulé, Niagara Metals regional sales manager (non-ferrous), said, “Diane, who is one of our long-standing employees, knows ‘Duffy,’ and she heard that he was trying to plan the scrap-metal drive and connected us. We were more than happy to be involved. It's a great community initiative, and always a pleasure to be a part of something bigger than ourselves – especially when you have a few great organizations coming together to do some social good for the community.”

Derek Veenhof, CEO of Modern Disposal Services, said, “Modern is grateful for the opportunity to help support the Pinnacle Community Services. Pinnacle provides critical services that make a positive difference in the lives of individuals throughout Niagara County. We enjoyed partnering with the 3F Conservation Club and Niagara Metals. Modern believes in giving back to communities, and we're pleased to contribute through our resources and hard-working team.”

Leadership from Modern Disposal Services, Niagara Metals, and the Fin, Feather, and Fur Conservation Society gathered Tuesday at the 3F Club to present a check to Pinnacle Community Services. Funds were raised at a recent scrap-metal drive.