Monday’s Community Food Conference — the first of two in the region — enabled Foodlink to gather its agencies together to share best practices, attend workshops and update them on what’s new with Foodlink.

A second CFC is scheduled for May 7 at SUNY Geneseo. 

PHOTOS: Monday’s conference at MCC

One highlight of the conference each year is when we honor a community volunteer who truly goes above and beyond (although ALL of the agencies we work with are going above and beyond in the work they do) to help serve food-insecure families and individuals in our region. 

This year’s winner is James Mateyka of Mission Share Outreach Center in Greece (10 Cedarfield Commons, Rochester, NY 14612). Mateyka, who has a learning disability, gives his heart and soul to the outreach center and has been at Executive Director Paul Filipiak’s side for years. According to Filipiak’s nomination:

“I have never met anyone with a servant heart bigger than James. He inspires and challenges us every day simply by his actions to love more deeply and serve more sacrificially each and every guest who comes through our doors at Mission Share.

“…James is very much an extrovert and loves talking with others.  He is always smiling, always happy, and he naturally overflows with joy.  His joy is contagious –  It lifts the spirit of those he interacts with, both clients and fellow volunteers.  That is a priceless gift!” 

While Mateyka was not at the conference to accept the award, Filipiak accepted it on his behalf. Congrats to James, and thank you Paul for the wonderful nomination!