Former school ties
Their journey began in the halls of Colonie Central High School — three lives brought together under one academic roof.
But nobody could have predicted that the three men who parted ways after graduation 30 years ago would reunite to raise enough food to feed nearly 6,000 mouths in Albany.
Brian Casey, the vice president of the South Colonie Central School District Board of Education, said he met neighbors Dave O’Connell and Lorenzo Hodges while they were attending Colonie Central High School and he was a part-time teacher’s aide and Colonie police officer. Casey described Hodges in high school as a student who wasn’t following the rules, and did not want to conform to the school setting.
O’Connell, who lived on the same street as Hodges, was in Hodge’s group of friends, but Casey said he `always seemed to have his head on straight.`
Years passed following Hodges’ and O’Connell’s graduation, but Casey never forgot the two.
He even recognized Hodges when he bumped into him nearly a decade ago in a parking lot near his dentist’s office.
Casey asked Hodges where he was headed, and was surprised by his response.
`He said, ‘I’m headed to church.’ I looked at him and I said, ‘Church? You don’t go to church,’` Casey remembered.
It was then that Casey learned of the personal journey Hodges had taken that culminated with him becoming president of the Joshua Foundation of New York, a charity organization dedicated to helping poor countries throughout the world and creating better living conditions. He was recently inducted into the Colonie Central High School Hall of Fame for his charitable works.
Since the nonprofit governmental agency was founded in 2002, it has raised millions of dollars in medical supplies that have been hand-delivered by Hodges to Ghana and Malawi, in Africa.
The Joshua Foundation has spent years raising money and supplies for developing countries, mostly in Africa, but this year, Hodges wanted to do something local.
`I was talking to The Rev. Dr. Edward Smart in the church [First Israel AME Church, in Albany], and he was telling me how his funding got cut and that he is feeding more people than ever on Wednesdays,` Hodges said, explaining that the church feeds anyone in the community who needs a meal on Wednesdays.
Hodges knew he wanted to help, but was not sure how.
So, he called his old friend, Casey, to ask for some advice.
`I asked him who might be able to help from his old circle [of friends],` said Casey, `And then I said, ‘Well, Dave’s got that big business down on Carman. Maybe he can help.’`
Hodges contacted O’Connell, owner of Con-Rel Auto Electric, on Carman Road in Guilderland, asking if his business could contribute to a food drive Hodges wanted to hold for the church.
`He knew where to get me and we kept in touch and he hit me with this idea and it sounded like a very good idea,` said O’Connell.
Through Hodges, O’Connell and Casey were able to reconnect and the three began working to bring in as much fresh food as possible.
O’Connell asked his oil and auto suppliers for monetary donations, while Casey and Hodges asked for assistance from people they knew throughout the community.
The trio was able to talk to food wholesalers and get discounted prices on fresh meat and vegetables.
`We got ground beef, beef for stew, ribs, a lot of chicken and hot dogs — cases and cases of hot dogs,` said Hodges.
The Rev. Smart was not available for comment, but Hodges said that when they presented the food to the Hamilton Street church during the week between Christmas and New Year’s, they were told that the amount would surely be enough to feed nearly 6,000 people, and would hopefully be able to last for every Wednesday for four or five months.
Hodges said it is unfortunate that so many people attend the Wednesday feedings, and that they are `regular families and businessmen who are just having a hard time making it,` but that he is very happy that the three men could make a difference for the church, at least for a little while.
He also called out to Gov. David Paterson to visit the church, especially on a Wednesday, and reconsider making cuts to the program that feeds so many families in Albany.
While this was Hodges first local charity event, he said his work is not done yet.
The three men plan to come together once again to kick off a canned food drive for foods with a longer shelf life to benefit local organizations.
Hodges said he is working on getting grocery stores involved in the drop-off of the canned goods, but that he would appreciate can donations as soon as possible to be made at the following locations: Con-Rel Auto Electric, 3637 Carman Road, Guilderland 12303 (next to Carman Wine and Liquor) or Jezereel International, 18 Kairnes St., Colonie 12205.
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