About Us
Community Cupboard History
The "concept" of Irondequoit Community Cupboard, Inc. began in
1995. Debbie Evans, an Irondequoit resident, was an active
volunteer in the East Irondequoit school district and noticed
several children who didn't have enough food to eat and warm
winter clothes to wear. She found that there were many families
living right in her own community who were living without basic
necessities; food, clothes, hygiene items, etc.
What started out as helping a few families in 1995 with a PTA
sponsored "Hat, Coat and Boot Exchange" has grown into a New
York State not-for-profit organization. The Irondequoit
Community Cupboard Inc, established as a "Not for Profit 501c3
Organization" in 2003, proudly assisting an average of 5-9
families per week. We have seen our numbers grow to (on average)
155 households per month. (2014)
Debbie ran the "pantry" out of her home until 2004 when they
moved to a shed on the property the Vineyard Christian
Fellowship. A year or so later they moved to their current home
at 4275 Culver Road where they paid a mortgage while applying
for many grants. Their persistence paid off and ICC was able to
be purchased through grants securing a place in the community
where everyone in need of assistance is welcomed.
Poverty effects everyone! In the last couple of years, there has
been an increase in the numbers of people who call Irondequoit
Community Cupboard for assistance. With many companies laying
off, letting go or closing, there are many displaced workers.
They are not making enough money to make ends meet. Some
families are working several jobs and some are still not
working. Others are seniors (on a fixed income) who have already
worked a full life and are retired, but with the rising costs of
taxes and medication and utilities would not be able to stay in
their homes without our assistance. Most of our families have
faced food insecurity many times this year
We are also seeing the needs change. We assist families who do
not receive enough food stamps to get them through the end of
the month. Food stamps DO NOT include items such as toothpaste
and toothbrushes, soap and deodorant, laundry detergent and
cleaning products or feminine hygiene products and paper goods.
We are seeing more and more people who come to us for items such
as school supplies, birthday cakes, cleaning supplies and and
mostly referrals to other agencies.
Town of Irondequoit Demographics
According to the 2000 census, Irondequoit has 52,354 residents. There are
22,276 households. Of these households~1,439 earn less than $10,000 per year.
8,327 are on Social Security earning less than $12,500 per year
382 are on Public Assistance receiving less than $4,100 per year
Irondequoit has 551 families living BELOW Poverty level. We have 2,794
individuals and 766 seniors also living below poverty level.
Board Members
Founder and President - Debbie Evans
Debbie has been working on this endeavor since 1995 when she
began on a much smaller scale of helping children in her school
district by making sure their families had enough food to get
them through the winter break and warm clothing for the winter
months. She was extremely disappointed to find out that the Town
of Irondequoit did not have an emergency food pantry of their
own. With the help of family, friends, and organizations within
the community, Debbie set out to establish a food pantry within
the community for residents who are in need of emergency
assistance. While waiting and working with the system she ran
the pantry our of her home until 2003 when a 501c3 for the
Irondequoit Community Cupboard was established.
Debbie counsels, guides and refers individuals with a variety of
needs while utilizing her growing knowledge of the social need
that exists in our community. She has been an advocate, both in
the county, and at the state and federal level where she is
tirelessly fighting for her clients. Debbie is married to her
husband Doug and they have two sons Jeffrey and Matthew. Debbie
also served on the Irondequoit Town Board for four years.
Chairperson - Lisa Loeser
Vice-Chairperson - MaryJo Toepfer
Treasurer - John Kane
John’s association with ICC started with organizing the
annual food drives performed by the Irondequoit High School
hockey team for ICC. He became significantly more involved when
ICC purchased the
current building which needed extensive renovations and
improvements. He joined the Board of ICC in 2010.
John has lived in the Rochester area all his life and in
Irondequoit for 25 years. He is a self-employed commercial
general contractor and oversees all building related issues for
ICC. John and his wife Kim live in Irondequoit and they have
four grown children who all attended school in Irondequoit.
Secretary - Cherie Evans
Cherie Evans (no relation to Debbie by the way)
moved to
Irondequoit when her husband, Steve, was hired by Kodak in 1977.
She has worked at St. John Fisher College since 1977. She read
about the Cupboard in the Irondequoit Post/Press and began
helping by donating toys at the holidays that she asked her
friends to bring to her annual Christmas party. She was a
volunteer for three years before she joined the ICC board in
Summer 2011. She and Steve have two cats and she likes to
garden, bike, and travel.
Corresponding Secretary - Diane Zaccarine
Board Member - Mary Bragg
Board Member - Rachel DeBlieck
Board Member - John Villeneuve
Contact Information
e-Mail: ICCDebbieEvans@gmail.com
Phone: (585) 336-9107