Bonnie Howlett was honored by the Greater Rochester Community of Churches on June 3 for her inspirational work on behalf of the Brockport area community. Her nomination was jointly submitted by the Brockport Ecumenical Outreach Committee (BEOC) and her church, the First Presbyterian Church of Brockport. Howlett has served her church for many years as Outreach and Concern Committee chairperson, Clerk of Session and Elder Delegate to Presbytery. For over five years, Howlett has served as chair of the Brockport Ecumenical Clothing Center, a ministry of the BEOC. The center's mission is to serve migrant farm workers and area residents in need through the collection and distribution of free clothing. Organizing the member churches taking turns at being in charge of the Center, each for two months a year with two openings periods per week, emergency openings and supervising high school student volunteers earning their required service hours, are just a part of her service offerings. Howlett also oversees seasonal clothing rotations, space and equipment maintenance and keeps clear communication going between member churches, church coordinators, and volunteers. The Clothing Center, founded in 1990, is located at 14 State Street in the basement of St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Members of the Brockport Rotary Club and St. Luke's carried out initial renovations, making the space functional. To facilitate the large volume of clientele, the Center tripled its size in 1996. Coordinators of participating churches are Richard and Karen Avery - First Baptist, Mary Hyde and Karen Richardson (acting) - First Presbyterian, Rita Bennett - Nativity, Paul and Cam Ferguson - Newman, Lynda Krens - St. Luke's Episcopal, and Doris Toal - United Methodist, all of Brockport. Clothing Center Board members are Bonnie Howlett, Rita Bennett, Lynda Krens, Tom Kurzdorfer, Sharon Frederick, Tracy Meckfessel and Rev. David Robinson. Bonnie and her husband, Roger, both retired teachers from Brockport Central School, are residents of Hamlin. Joining Bonnie at the GRCC celebration were members of the First Presbyterian Church and BEOC, Roger and the Howlett's two sons and daughters-in-law. W/pic |
