Ontario Cares

10/23/2026

Velour Reid and Drew Mandes already bring music into their work with EPIC Zone youth. Now they're learning how to put it on the air.

On Tuesday, the two FLX Unity Center team members sat down with Jason Longwell of Geneva Community Radio for broadcast training, the first step toward getting Geneva teens (and other community members) behind the mic.

Read the full story.

FLX Unity Center Staff Train with Geneva Community Radio On Tuesday, two members of the FLX Unity Center team, Velour Reid and Drew Mandes, sat down with Jason Longwell of […]

10/23/2026

Monday's pop-up food pantry kept us busy. Cars were lined up before we opened, and with help from Foodlink, we got food into the hands of a lot of our neighbors.

Of course, none of that happens without our volunteers. They showed up early, loaded car after car, and kept things moving with a smile.

Our next pop-up is Nov. 16.

10/22/2026

Thank you to the Finger Lakes Times for helping get the word out!

Don't miss Medication Take Back Day this Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Village of Victor Village Hall.

In conjunction with Red Ribbon Week, it's an easy way to clear out expired or unused medications and keep them from ending up in the wrong hands.

Drop-off is free and anonymous.

Clean out the cabinet, swing by, and help keep our community safe.

What you can bring:

•Unused or expired medications and liquids
•Sharps in a puncture-proof container, like an empty laundry detergent bottle

Ontario County Public Health Ontario County Sheriff

VICTOR — Ontario Cares (Partnership for Ontario County) said the Ontario County Board of Supervisors has passed a resolution recognizing Red Ribbon Week, the national substance use prevention campaign observed

10/19/2026

Costumes on, trunks open! 🎃

The VA Employee Association, in partnership with the Ontario Cares Veterans Coalition and Compeer CORPS, is hosting a family-friendly Trunk or Treat this Saturday, October 24, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center. Along with decorated trunks and candy, there'll be face painting and a balloon twister, rain or shine.

One reminder: no real or pretend weapons are allowed on VA property, so leave the toy swords and blasters at home.

10/19/2026

Cleaning out the medicine cabinet? Here's where the leftovers should go.

Unused medication can end up in the wrong hands or in our water and landfills. Drop them off this Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Victor Village Hall for National Drug Take Back Day. We'll take expired medications, liquids, and sharps in a puncture-proof container.

Thank you to the Ontario County Sheriff's Office and Ontario County Public Health for partnering with us and the Village of Victor (Village Hall) for hosting.

10/19/2026

Not every mistake needs to follow a young person for the rest of their life.

Ontario County Youth Court gives teens involved in non-violent offenses a chance to be heard by their peers, take responsibility, and move forward. Referrals can come from parents and guardians, schools, community agencies, probation, and law enforcement, and there's a referral packet for each.

Find the right form or reach out with questions about eligibility: https://ontariocares.org/youth-court-referral-forms/

10/17/2026

Canandaigua Crossfit donated $2000 to Challenge-22 Su***de Prevention

10/16/2026

Chess, coffee, and a mattress delivery.

That's a recent stretch of miles for the Ontario Cares van, and Luke Moody, our Veterans Coalition program coordinator, has been behind the wheel for all of it. Some trips are about getting out and spending time with other people. Others are about stepping in when a Veteran needs a hand, like picking up a mattress from the VA and getting it delivered.

The Ontario Cares van is helping Veterans stay connected to other Veterans across the county.

10/15/2026

What does it actually mean to meet people where they are?

That's one of the conversations happening at the Community Health Exchange in Geneva today, and Allauna Overstreet-Gibson (FLX Unity Center and EPIC Zone Geneva) is part of the panel.

Amelia Baker, Youth Court program coordinator, is holding down the Ontario Cares table, so if you're there, swing by and say hello.

10/14/2026

Plenty of people walk past FLX Unity Center (81 North Street) every day without realizing what's inside.

What's inside is EPIC Zone Geneva: a youth drop-in space where teens ages 12–17 find a place to belong, adults who show up for them, and a community they help shape. The program has grown through word of mouth and the dedication of staff who make it work every day.

What it doesn't have yet is a sign out front.

Exterior signage is one of three priorities in the 81 North Capital Campaign, alongside a working kitchen and a resurfaced basketball court with privacy fencing. A sign is how a teen who's never heard of us finds the door. It's how families know the space is real, permanent, and welcoming.

The work inside has earned a sign outside. Help us make it visible: https://ontariocares.org/support-youth