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Ben Williams

@iambenjiblanco

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Connector. Family Guy. Chef. Musician. Human.

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There's still time by @iambenjiblanco

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3 months ago

ZP back at it again tomorrow for some Memorial Day cookout vibes w @itsdjceleb at @whiskeypickletroy rain or shine! See yall there!! by @iambenjiblanco

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5 months ago

This is what it looked like at the Connect Center this week.

Couch White came in, got right to work, and helped bag groceries in under an hour. Before they left, they also purchased all of the remaining paintings for $300.

That kind of support matters. It helps us keep showing up for families and keep our programs moving.

We’re grateful for teams like Couch White for spending time with us and supporting the work in a real way.

If your workplace has been looking for a way to get involved, go to our website to see how you can volunteer with us.

#cohoesny #communitysupport #givebacklocal #volunteerny #supportlocal by @iambenjiblanco

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6 months ago

We have one more week in our launch campaign to help get the Generosity Roundtable into the hands of nonprofit leaders all across the United States (and maybe Canada!). Please consider a donation meaningful to you to support this work. Check the link in the bio to support. by @iambenjiblanco

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6 months ago

Listen to Ben Williams, the Executive Director of the Connect Center in upstate New York, talk about how The Generosity Roundtable tabletop role-playing experience helps him see his community in a different light. taken in Connect Center for Youth by @iambenjiblanco

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7 months ago

Join us for a live playtesting session of The Generosity Roundtable on March 18th, which this video establishes is a Wednesday.

Save your seat: tinyurl.com/MarchRoundtableLive by @iambenjiblanco

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7 months ago

New headshots, new year, new goals, new everything!

📸: Andrew Elder - @bestframeforward taken in Connect Center for Youth by @iambenjiblanco

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10 months ago

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10 months ago

THANKFUL.

It took me a few days to gather my thoughts after this past Saturday, when volunteers from M&T Bank, Broadview Federal Credit Union, Starpoint Church, Good Ground Family Church, Truheart and many other organizations from across the Capital District came together with the Regional Food Bank for a mass food distribution.

Honestly, I’ve been overwhelmed — in the best way — by the love and support this community continues to show. I’ve been trying to find the right words… and the only one that keeps coming up is thankful.

I’m thankful that I said “yes” to the Connect Center. I’m thankful for the journey it’s brought me on, for the ways it has stretched me, grown me, and made me a better person. I’m thankful for every lesson I’ve learned along the way.

I’m thankful for my family, for my mother and father who showed me what a life of service looks like. I’m thankful for my dad, who started all of this by dragging a grill out onto the sidewalk and feeding students in Cohoes as they walked home from school. He set the example, and I’ve just been trying to follow it.

I’m thankful for every volunteer.
Every donor.
Every person who ever gave even a single dollar.
Everyone who sponsored an event.
Every board member who has served.
Every employee who has helped us move forward.
Every person reading this right now.
Everyone who believed in me and everyone who didn’t.

Gratitude isn’t just a feeling — it’s fuel. It’s the reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness have the power to move entire communities forward. #thankful #gratitude #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors @connectcenterforyouth @truheartinc @mandt_bank @foodbankneny @broadviewfcu_ @starpoint.church @goodgroundfamilychurch taken in Connect Center for Youth by @iambenjiblanco

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a year ago

We are still in total awe from today’s food distribution❤️.

Over 400 cars filled with families came through and thanks to the incredible partnership with the Regional Food Bank and our dedicated volunteers, we were able to distribute over 20,000 lbs of food to those in need across our community.

Every single can, box, and smile made a difference today.

We are so grateful for everyone who showed up, lent a hand, and reminded us what community
truly means.

#RegionalFoodBank #ConnectCenterForYouth #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors taken in Connect Center for Youth by @iambenjiblanco

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a year ago

Food distribution TODAY (Thu, Nov 6) at 9:30 AM at the Connect Center, with the Regional Food Bank. While supplies last. All are welcome. 💙 by @iambenjiblanco

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a year ago

This was the line of cars around the block that I walked into this morning. People were lining up 40 minutes before we even opened the doors.

I’m sharing this because so many of you have reached out asking me to make a shareable post of how you can help as we face this surge in community need. The truth is — we need both food and funds.

🛒 If you’d like to donate food:
Here’s what we need most right now:
• 1lb packages of Beef, Pork, or Chicken
• Cereal
• Canned Fruit and Veggies
• Pasta
• Rice (flavored, white, basmati, jasmine, or brown)
• Juice
• Cooking Oils
• Sugar
• Snack Items
• Ground Coffee

📦 Donations can be dropped off during any of our pantry times:
Tuesdays: 10am–2pm
Wednesdays: 5:30pm–7:30pm
Thursdays: 10am–2pm
Sundays: 9am–12pm
(Closed the first Sunday of each month)

💰 If you’d like to donate money:
What helps us most right now are monthly donations. When you give every month — even a small amount — you help us plan ahead, restock shelves, and make sure families never leave empty-handed.

Join us as a Connect Partner — just $1 a day or $30 a month helps feed 4–5 families every month through our partnership with the Regional Food Bank.

But please know this: every single dollar helps.
If $30 a month isn’t in your budget, give what’s comfortable — even $5, $10, or $1 a month makes a difference.

And if you can only give once, that helps too. The important thing is that we stand together — neighbors helping neighbors.

👉 Become a Connect Partner here:
https://connectcenterforyouth.app.neoncrm.com/forms/2024-connect-partner-donation?campaignId=6

And remember — every $1 donation allows us to purchase 6.25 lbs of food through the Regional Food Bank. That means your gift goes a long way toward filling real plates with real meals.

The outpouring of support, messages, and kindness has been humbling and overwhelming. Thank you to everyone who’s reached out, donated, or shared our mission.

🙏 Please keep sending people our way if you know anyone who needs food. Together, we can make sure no one in our community goes hungry. ❤️ @connectcenterforyouth taken in Connect Center for Youth by @iambenjiblanco

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a year ago