named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Commercial Kitchen Access
Provides shared kitchen space registered with NYS Ag & Markets for local entrepreneurs and small food businesses
Community Meals and Pancake Breakfasts
Volunteer-run breakfast events open to the public; dependent on volunteer availability
Free Food Cupboard and Lending Library
24/7 accessible community cupboard offering free food and a free book lending library at the entrance
GeoWhiz Geography Quiz
Annual educational quiz event for teams, focused on geography; serves as a fundraiser
Recreational Facilities
Public playground, basketball court, tetherball, picnic areas, and woodland trails maintained for community use
TC3 Student Award
Offers a cash award to a Tompkins Cortland Community College student from Dryden based on a short essay
Varna After School Program
Previously offered structured activities for children after school; currently on hold
activities · 14 groups
What they do
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Administer scholarship programProvides a cash award to a Tompkins Cortland Community College student residing in Dryden through a competitive essay process.
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Recycling-Driven Fundraising Programs 1 activity
- Collect recyclable donations for fundraisingAccepts donations of refundable bottles, cans, and used ink cartridges through a drop-off program to generate funds for community services.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Distribute community newsletterProduces and distributes a printed newsletter to over 500 residences and businesses in Varna four times per year to share local updates and event announcements.
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Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization 1 activity
- Facilitate civic participation through polling site operationsServes as an official polling site for the Ithaca City School District and a Tompkins County Board of Elections voting district in the Town of Dryden, supporting democratic engagement.
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Nonprofit Real Estate Holding 1 activity
- Generate operating income through facility rentalsGenerates income by renting out VCA facilities to support operational costs.
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Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
- Host recurring community events and programsOrganizes regular community events including pancake breakfasts, chicken BBQs, knitting club meetings, strength and balance classes, and visits from educational groups such as the Cornell Herpetology Club to foster community participation and wellness.
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Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 1 activity
- Manage public outdoor recreational facilitiesOperates a public playground and maintains two woodland trails accessible daily from dawn to dusk, providing recreational opportunities for residents and visitors; the playground was built in 2016 through volunteer labor.
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Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
- Operate community catering servicesRuns a catering service capable of serving up to 1,000 people at a single event, with demonstrated capacity to serve 600 people in 40 minutes for diverse community groups.
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Community Space Provision 1 activity
- Operate community meeting hall and provide community servicesProvides a central community meeting hall and offers intergenerational and childcare activities to support community engagement and social services in Varna, NY.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Operate free food and book access programsMaintains a 24/7 free food cupboard and cooler in partnership with Mutual Aid Tompkins, and operates a free outdoor book lending library and book cupboard at the community center for public use.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Organize community service and environmental stewardship eventsCoordinates volunteer-driven initiatives such as highway cleanups along Route 366 to improve local environmental conditions and promote civic responsibility.
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Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 1 activity
- Provide educational and early childhood programsOperated a play school program serving children aged 3 to 7, contributing to early childhood education and development in the community.
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Youth Scouting Program Support 1 activity
- Sponsor youth development programsSupported the Varna Boy Scout Troop, contributing to growth in membership and facilitating six Eagle Scout achievements, as part of youth capacity-building efforts.
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Shared Kitchen Incubator for Food Entrepreneurs 1 activity
- Support small business development through shared kitchen facilitiesProvides kitchen facilities to help launch small food-based businesses, serving as a resource for local entrepreneurship.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$48K
Contributions & grants$24K51%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1K2%
Other revenue$23K
expenses
Total expenses$59K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$109K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$109K
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue +47.6%
relationships · 11
Who they work with
- Community Foundation of Tompkins Co. Partner — Provided grants through the Our Rural Neighbors & Tompkins Today and Tomorrow funds for capital improvements to VCA property.
- Cornell Herpetology Club Partner — Hosts visits and events with the Cornell Herpetology Club at the Varna Community Center
- Cornell University Partner — Collaborated on talent shows held at Cornell's Bailey Hall and received shared proceeds from events.
- Family Reading Partnership Partner — Hosts a Bright Red Bookshelf inside the Varna Community Center to promote early literacy.
- Food Net/Meals on Wheels Partner — Provides information and referral to meal services for seniors through the VCA resource list.
- Ithaca College Partner — Students from Ithaca College assisted with preparing the Varna News for mailing.
- Mutual Aid Tompkins Partner — Collaborates to maintain a free 24/7 food cupboard at the Varna Community Center.
- Sustainable Finger Lakes Partner — Provided a grant through the Neighborhood Mini Grant Program for plantings at VCA property.
- Tompkins County Office for the Aging Government — Provides information and referral to aging services through the VCA resource list.
- Town of Dryden NY Government — VCA is located within the Town of Dryden, NY, and references its jurisdictional relationship.
- USA Tai Chi Society - Ithaca chapter Partner — Hosts Tai Chi classes at the Varna Community Center.
strategies · 1
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Programming and Maintenancemethodology: community_driven_programmingBy involving residents in planning and maintaining community spaces through volunteer committees, the organization fosters ownership and sustained engagement, leading to safer, well-maintained facilities and relevant programming because collective participation strengthens social cohesion and accountability.