Community Press, February 2003 (Tioga County, NY)

Community Press, February 2003
TCRM Celebrating 25th Anniversary Year

TCRM 23rd Annual Pancake & Sausage Fund Raising Breakfast - Left to right: Mrs. Joan Basel; Sister Estelle Marie Gavel, IHM; Mrs. Verna Miller, Mrs. Ruthanne Orth, TCRM Board of Directors Chairman; Kathryn Guinan, volunteer; Former TCRM Executive Directors - Sister Lisette O'Brien, RSM, and Sister Noreen Graney, RSM; and Mrs. Sheryl Raftis. Missing from picture are Sister Phyllis McGuire, RSM, TCRM Executive Director, since 9/02 and Mrs. Janet Krasniak, staff since 6/99, who were telling the TCRM story at church services.

Tioga County Rural Ministry (TCRM) throughout 2003 is Celebrating 25 Years of Faith Filled Service in Our Community.

TCRM was established in July 1978 and is supported by the Catholic parishes of Tioga County and by the Sisters of Mercy of Rochester.
Sisters Carol and Kathleen were pioneers in this type of Rural Ministry in the Diocese. The Sisters explored state, county, town and country roads. They made a survey of the area to determine the greatest need for Well Child Clinics. They knocked on doors, cooperated with various agencies, delivered emergency food and clothing, and provided transportation. Visits to shut-ins were high priority to them.

Today TCRM is much broader. TCRM has a food pantry, offers financial assistance, provides Christmas gifts and food at the holidays, coordinates a home repair program, provides transportation to medical appointments, and visits many elderly and shut-ins.

TCRM's staff has expanded to two full time sisters and two part time lay people. Sister Phyllis, Sister Estelle Marie, Verna Miller and Janet Krasniak all work in this ministry.

After Sisters Carol and Kathleen came Sr. Mary, Sr. Shelia, Sr. Nancy, Sr. Kathy, Sr. Noreen, Sr. Pat and Sr. Lisette. Joan Basel served faithfully for twelve years.

Hundreds of others volunteered over these 25 years. All contributed to the success of TCRM in its ministry to the needy of Tioga County.
TCRM continues to receive financial assistance from the Catholic churches of Tioga County. But TCRM also receives a large portion if its budget from other Tioga County churches and individuals.

TCRM's volunteer roles consist of many different Christian faiths, all dedicated individuals who want to show Jesus' love to others.

Today TCRM is truly an ecumenical organization.

There will be special anniversary celebrations throughout the year to celebrate this ministry.

Kickoff for the 25th was the 23rd Annual Super Bowl Sunday Pancake and Sausage Breakfast at St. Patrick's Church. Hundreds attended and ate 2,000 pancakes and 1,500 sausages and drank lots of coffee and orange juice. Fellowship included viewing a continuous 25-year slide presentation, selected pictures and scrap books.

This reflection sums up the role of TCRM: "TCRM is like a road crew after a bad winter. Constantly trying to patch and fix the holes before somebody falls in. The incredible generosity of the people of Tioga County provides the patching material. To see the overwhelming needs that seem to grow each year could be depressing. But it is more than balanced by the even more overwhelming kindness, caring and generosity of donors and volunteers who come at a growing pace."