Compassion Coalition is a faith-based, nonprofit organization located in downtown Utica, NY. We are a community-based organization that acts as a collection and distribution point for food, personal care products, paper products, diapers and furniture. The daily ministry we do in our neighborhoods and communities will help to change a generation.
Our History
Compassion Coalition was founded by Rev. Michael J. Servello from Herkimer, NY in December of 1999. Pastor Mike’s passion was to fulfill a need that was stated in our local newspaper. The article spoke about how food pantries and local shelters were running out of food and supplies by mid-year and were shutting down. This disturbing news drove Pastor Mike to find a warehouse building to begin a “hybrid” model of a food bank to help supplement these agencies with the much-needed food and supplies. In December of 1999, a very prominent local businessman donated a 30,000 square foot building for the cause and Compassion Coalition, Inc. was birthed. We are the first and only warehouse that solicits, collects and distributes food, personal care products, paper products, furniture and diapers in the Utica, Rome and Mohawk Valley areas to help alleviate hunger and personal care needs in our communities and New York State. Compassion Coalition, Inc. is in its 12th year of operation. It is a debt-free, self-sustaining organization and for every dollar that comes in only 11.2% is for overhead. Just last year alone, over $400,000 of matching volunteer pay was logged by this agency’s team of volunteers!
In May of 2004, it became evident that the cost to maintain this nonprofit organization was running thousands of dollars to the negative. At this point, Pastor Mike opened to the public a 2,300 square foot retail grocery store, called “The Compassion Grocery Store”, now called, “Your Bargain Grocer” – www.yourbargaingrocer.com. The store has name brand items, both frozen and dry goods, meats, organics, fresh vegetables and several other items. The prices of our products to the public at YBG are substantially lower than those found at our the local grocery stores. This makes groceries very affordable to everyone and at the same time the annual loss experience on the nonprofit side is washed out because of the store sales! This innovative concept is what allows Compassion Coalition to be debt-free and self-sustaining – a real gift from God!
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat…
The pains of hunger have no boundaries. Whether it’s the senior citizen in our own neighborhood or a child in distant Africa, we are mandated by Jesus to care for all. Compassion Coalition’s Care team is attempting to do just that with a formula that works. We solicit donations (or negotiate reduced cost) of surplus food and household products from grocery chains, manufacturers, retailers and distributors. Product is sorted, stored and packaged for our member agencies at our Lafayette Street warehouse.
