The Joshua Project moved much closer to having its first-ever home last Tuesday.
The Sterling Insurance Company Foundation gave the faith-based organization $30,000 towards the new building planned for East Cobleskill.
Sterling CEO Nino Cogliandro said the Foundation board was impressed with the Joshua Project’s work, including many food programs for needy families, furniture for those in need, visiting shut-ins and more, all in Schoharie County.
“Their mission aligns with the Foundation’s––keep it local, giving back,” Mr. Cogliandro said.
“It’s a bull’s eye of good, honest people helping people. The Joshua Project’s been on our list for a long time.”
He and Chief Financial Officer Melissa Morlang presented the gift to Joshua President Pat Costello at Joshua’s monthly meeting, this time held at Sterling offices in Cobleskill.
The Foundation gave to the Joshua Project in the past, Mr. Cogliandro said, but when Mr. Costello addressed the board weeks before, “he told a compelling story.”
The Foundation intends the donation to pay for a refrigeration system at the building, but Joshua volunteers can use the funds for whatever’s needed, Mr. Cogliandro said.
“Sterling has been extremely generous through the years, but not quite like this,” Mr. Costello said.
“It’s a wonderful gift.”
The Joshua Project has enough money for its many programs, but if it doesn’t raise funds for the building, programs might be reduced to pay for construction, Mr. Costello said.
That’s why the Foundation donation is key.
“If we’re short of money, we don’t want to cut into program money,” Mr. Costello said.
Formed in 2011, the Joshua Project has never had a home, building or office, so the new building will be an advantage.
“This was unique,” Mr. Cogliandro said of the donation. “People have been keeping things in their garage, kitchens and barns. We just wanted to help.”
Work is moving along on the building, which will be a 40-by-100-foot insulated pole barn with an office, conference room, 12-by-24-foot walk-in freezers and coolers and space for storing furniture.
A driveway to the back of the two-acre lot is in, and the site is ready for sand, donated by Carver, to be delivered for the septic system.
The well is in, and “the water is clean and good,” which is unusual for that area, Mr. Costello said.
He expects the building itself to go up in May.
“We’re working hard to get all our ducks in a row to make that happen,” Mr. Costello said.