Mission: To improve, develop and care for the health, welfare and general well being of residents of the greater Webster community.

In the 2009 year the Webster Community Chest assisted many in the 14580 zip code.  This includes:

2,005 calls to the Community Chest

2,431 visits to the Tuesday Surplus Food Distribution

600+ people served from the Food Cupboard

66 emergency visits to the Food Cupboard

252 holiday food baskets distributed

41 children received a summer recreation scholarship

47 families received emergency financial assistance

72 children received Christmas gifts

We are committed to helping organizations that strengthen our community by providing activities, and services for residents. We like to extend our resources to organizations for projects that may need extra funds. Organizations can write to Webster Community Chest 1000 Ridge Rd. Webster NY 14580 to request funds. The President may call the contact person and ask that they attend the next meeting to explain their project.

  In 2009 the Chest supported the following:

        Webster Central School District's Senior Citizen's Day

        Webster Theater Guild

        United Methodist Church's Outreach House

        Heritage Christian Services

        Webster PTSA

        Webster Comfort Care Home

        SEPTA scholarship for children in special education

        Honor Flight

The Medical Equipment Loan Cupboard located at 985 Ebner Drive is now closed.  You may borrow equipment or make donations to the Webster Masonic Service Bureau, located at 979 Bay Road.  Please call them at 671-9730 for their hours and items available.

The Chest provides assistance with food for those Webster residents in need. The Food Cupboard is set up as a mini grocery store of nonperishable food and personal care products. All items are donated by Webster businesses, churches, schools, scout troops and individuals. The Food Cupboard is open by appointment and the individual is asked to provide proof of Webster residency and the reason they are in need. Shopping at the Cupboard is free and available on a temporary basis until a crisis is past or other solutions are found.

Each Tuesday evening there is a distribution of perishable food (vegetables, fruit, bread, dairy products, etc.) that has been regularly donated by Wegmans (Holt Road and Eastway), Hegedorns, BJs, Starbucks, Schutt's, Panera Bread, and Diamond Delights Bakery. Families who meet income guidelines are welcome to come as often as needed. Approximately 40 dedicate volunteers oversee this weekly program. Pictures of volunteers at the food cupboard. (Link opens a new window.)

Each Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas food baskets are assembled for families who qualify. School-aged children, in eligible families, also receive Christmas gifts.

School aged children, in families who qualify, may register to receive Christmas gifts. These new gifts are provided by the Community Chest, schools, churches, businesses, scout troops, individuals, and families. In addition, each year Hegedorn's puts up a tree with ornaments of needed items which can be taken from the tree and the item returned to the store.

Each child will receive clothing along with toys, games and books that they have checked off on a "wish list."

Our Christmas Gift Volunteer Coordinator spends several months preparing the information needed, organizing the names and wish lists with those in the community that want to "adopt" the children, and overseeing the 23 volunteers who will spend two weeks wrapping the gifts and getting them ready for the distribution.

The children's faces light up and the parents are very grateful. For some families, this is the only Christmas gifts they receive.

Shirley Miller was the Community Chest benefit's counselor for almost three decades. During those years, Shirley became the most visible part of the Community Chest working with those who most needed assistance. Each year the Webster Community Chest awards two scholarships, one for each High School.  These Seniors have performed significant community service.

The 2009 Shirley Miller Award winners were: Christopher Topping from Schroeder High School and Christopher Kausch II from Thomas High School.

The Webster Community Chest provides summer camp scholarships to children in Webster families that qualify.  These scholarships are available for the Fun Camp programs offered through Webster Parks & Recreation.