The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Utica collected 1,000 food tiems and $2,000 in donations for Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen.

Parade Food Drive Co-Chair Chris Hoke noted: “More than half the food was donated by Notre Dame Elementary School, which hosts a St. Patrick’s Day Food Drive the week before the Parade— and they really get into it!!”

Adorino Construction owner Bernie Adorino, the other co-chair, and his employees collected the food and cash donations along the parade route on Genesee Street, working with Notre Dame High School students.

This was the 18th year for the parade food drive, and new this year was the use of a QR Code on posters that parade spectators could scan with their smart phones to made a donation.

Chris broke down the monetary donations as follows:
In-Parade Donations—$1020
QR Code Donations—$370
Chris’s Extra Donations—$150
Bernie’s Extra Donations—$460
Grand Total———————$2000

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The volunteers of Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen and Boutique were honored with the Syracuse Diocese’s Immaculata Award in December for their efforts to serve those in need in the community and in St. Joseph & St. Patrick Parish.

The award ceremony took place Dec. 7, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse, with lay men and women from 90 parishes being recognized for their volunteer work.

As the Catholic Sun explained, “The awards were established in 2011 by Bishop Emeritus Robert J. Cunningham to recognize the many laypeople around the diocese who devote their energy and time to volunteering in their parishes and beyond, honoring their service and fidelity to Christ and His Church. The awards’ namesake comes from the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, as the conferral of the awards always takes place on the Sunday closest to the Holy Day.”

Bishop Douglas J. Lucia  greeted and congratulated each honoree.

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The awards were announced at a recent dinner to thank and recognize the many volunteers who make the soup kitchen and boutique possible.

“Pat helps as a volunteer on a weekly (Tuesday) basis (on Tuesdays),” notes Kitchen Manager Mike Pilat.  “She also coordinates the pick- up of Panera bread weekly, comes in Saturday afternoons to process the bread with others, and helps on Wednesdays during the college school year with the 7-10 boxes of frozen leftover food from Hamilton College.  Pat also has been known to help out on other days when volunteers have called in sick.”

Phyllis is a retired nurse practitioner. “In addition to being a volunteer personal shopper on Mondays, Phyllis coordinates the monthly blood pressure clinic administered by Mohawk Valley Health Systems,” notes Boutique Coordinator Nancy Robert.  “She also does the monthly on-line ordering and delivery of toiletry supplies provided by Compassion Coalition.  Phyllis has also reached out to Utica Comets Hockey and Soccer Teams to help us when we have large orders that need to be carried upstairs. On occasions, she has also provided emergency medical assistance to some shopping guests.”

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By Marissa Carollo | Special to the Daily Sentinel (Apr 15, 2025)
Sentinel photos by John Clifford

UTICA – The West Side Boutique sits tucked away in the site named after Utica’s saint — St. Marianne Cope — in a cozy locale upstairs from Mother Marianne’s West Side Soup Kitchen at 702 Columbia St., the home of St. Joseph/St. Patrick’s Church.

For several years, the West Side Boutique has provided a “no-cost shopping experience” for the disadvantaged — ranging from the city’s homeless to its working poor, refugees, single parents and others, including families, struggling to get by.

Lynda Briggs, of Remsen, has been a volunteer and co-director at the boutique since 2017, after a chance meeting with boutique director Nancy Robert at a local big box store. There are currently 25 fellow volunteers, Briggs said, but the popularity of the soup kitchen, boutique and hair salon is so large it makes it hard for the existing volunteer staff to keep up. In fact, she said, the West Side Boutique’s homeless clientele alone is up 40% from the previous year.

“It humbles me the amount of people that we serve,” said Briggs, who said there are many misconceptions when it comes to the community’s homeless population. “A lot of people think homeless individuals, also known as unhoused, are dirty, and they are not,” she said. “The most requested item they ask for is cleaning supplies.”

Most of them, she said, “do not have a choice” to be homeless.

“If they are in an apartment, many tell us they do not have heat, it’s scary. Most of the people that come in are wonderful and very appreciative for the kindness and help given by dedicated volunteers and donors,” Briggs said, adding that volunteers make sure donated items are of good quality. “If we won’t wear it, we won’t put it out.”

Since January, the West Side Boutique has given over 100 coats and 80 pairs of boots — along with hundreds of hats, scarves and gloves, as well as several new outfits to help people look sharp for job interviews. On average, 250 to 300 people are helped each month.

Briggs said the boutique needs additional volunteers, donations, and a licensed volunteer hair stylist, either working or retired, to cut hair once a month from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on a Monday or another day of their choice. The boutique is also always in need of new or gently used men’s clothes, sheets, towels, washcloths, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, and toiletries.

Two years ago, when the nearby Shaheen Brothers Shoe Store closed, the Shaheen family donated many of their remaining shoes and boots to the boutique, an act, Briggs said, that not only provides much-needed footwear but also hope and compassion to those who often find such commodities in rare supply.

Robert said the mission has truly given her a purpose — like it has to many of those drawn to help.

Robert, a native of south Utica, left the city to attend Le Moyne College in Syracuse to study business management. After she and her husband sold their family motel business in Tupper Lake, she continued her career as director of the Saint Lawrence County Office for the Aging. After retiring, Robert, who now lives in Forestport, was unsure of what she wanted to do next.

Her purpose, she said, became clear after she saw a line outside the soup kitchen one day in 2016 and was moved to start volunteering there. But seeking more ways to help, Robert and her sister, Pat McCraith, started the boutique after receiving approval and support from the parish and its kitchen director.

“When we are able to put a smile on a person’s face, it is all worth it,” said Robert. “At the kitchen and boutique, people are treated with kindness, dignity, respect and compassion, and that is all so important. We are all in need,” said Robert. “You can have nothing or everything, but everyone truly needs kindness and compassion.”

The Lenten and Easter season are the perfect time, Robert said, to “give of oneself to help others in need.”

The West Side Boutique has also branched out — with its support extending to Israel and Ukraine as well as to other human service agencies within Utica and surrounding communities.

Anyone wishing to donate, volunteer or provide a monetary donation for the West Side Boutique, can email Robert at nancyrobert@mmwsk.org or fill out a volunteer form online at https://mmwsk.org/volunteer/. The best day to drop off donations is Monday between 10 and 11 a.m. at the rear door, Robert said, adding emails to alert her when donations are coming and what is being donated are appreciated.

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Story and photo by Thomas Caputo, Daily Sentinel

During the annual Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade, spectators continued the tradition of showing their generosity by donating funds and food to benefit Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen.

The parade, which took place Saturday, March 15, was considered a “resounding success” by city officials as it remained incident-free with zero police interventions reported throughout the day, noting the “remarkable achievement reflects the outstanding coordination between event organizers, public safety officials, and the cooperation of the community.”

Utica’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is reported to be the third largest in New York state and typically features over 5,000 participants and approximately 30,000 spectators, as reported by parade officials.

During this year’s parade, $3,200 was collected for the annual food drive. In addition to the funds, over 1,500 food items were also collected.

“The crowds were incredible this year,” said Bernie Adorino, president of Adorino Construction and co-chair for the parade’s annual food drive. “The more people, the more money you can expect to raise. Every year it just gets bigger and bigger, so we keep doing it. It’s getting better and better every year.”

Parade organizers were able to increase that $3,200 to a total of $4,001 this year, which was presented to Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen on Friday, March 21.

For the past 16 years, a food drive for the kitchen has taken place simultaneously during the parade, contributing to over 15,000 food items and around $20,000 to benefit the kitchen’s mission to feed struggling individuals and families.

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The parade committee announced that Adorino Construction and Croabh Dugan-O’Looney were teaming up once again for the 16th Annual Food Drive to benefit the soup kitchen.

“Last year, we set a record by donating over $4,000 and truckloads of non-perishable food items,” the announcement said. “Let’s see if we can beat that this year!”

“We invite you to bring a non-perishable food item or cash donation to the parade, and look for our team with wheelbarrows and buckets – you won’t miss us! Your generosity helps us feed our neighbors in need and tackle food insecurity in the community. Thank you for your support!”

The parade steps off at Oneida Square at 10 a.m. on March 15 and heads north on Genesee Street.

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Kitchen Manager Mike Pilat reports a significant increase in meals being served at Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen.

The first three quarters of 2024 have already outpaced all of 2023.

“We went by last year’s total of 43,182 with 43,319 meals served as of September 30th,” he noted.

The soup kitchen served hot meals and bagged lunches totaling well over 5,000 per month for the past quarter.  In the past three months (July-September), a total of 15,988 meals fed 11,192 adults, 3,518 senior citizens, and 1,278 children, cumulatively.

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The boutique also:

• hosted a “Dinosaur Craft Program” for 20 children with help from Mid-York/Utica Public Library.

• provided Bombas socks and small crafts to 40 low-income campers at Camp Nazareth.

• donated socks, shoes, toiletries, and towels to the emergency relief effort for Rome residents impacted by tornado damage.

• donated toys, games, socks, and toiletries for 15 children and five adults at the Neighborhood Center.

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Josie Abounader was honored as the Fr. Richard Dellos Volunteer of the Year, and Linda Briggs was named West Side Boutique’s Volunteer of the Year.

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In 2023 both Eli Shaheen Sr., and his cousin, George Shaheen who operated Utica’s well-known custom and orthopedic shoe store for 71 years, passed away.

“The store has recently closed operation and in remembrance of Eli and George, the family donated remaining footwear, valued at $10,000 to Mother Marianne’s West Side Boutique,” she said.

“We are very grateful for this generous donation which is helping many people in need!”

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