The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 (EOA) started a national movement of agencies working to fight the “War on Poverty”. The emphasis on local change led to the name: Community Action. In 1965, the chairman of the Board of Supervisors in Orleans County appointed a committee to study ways in which Orleans County might become a part of this movement. An action committee was formed to study local needs for housing, migrant labor, and youth training, as well as problems facing older Americans. An agency was formed under the name Orleans Community Action Committee, Inc., or OCAC. In July 1965, anti-poverty programming began with: Head Start, Family Planning, Legal Aid, Neighborhood Youth Corp., and People’s Opportunity.
In those first few years, Head Start and later CHAP (Children’s Health Assurance Program) were formed to teach children and help with good health practices, along came our satellite office in Holley, (Eastern Orleans Community Center) to assist with senior Citizens and pre-schoolers, CATS (Community Action Transportation System) to transport senior citizens, and CARES (Community Action Resource & Educational service) which was a mobile van travelling the County informing residents of the programs available under the newly formed Orleans Community Action Committee.
Since 1965, some programs were spun off and other programs and services were extended into Genesee County. Today, we have grown to be an agency with an operating budget of over seven million dollars and employ over 120 people. We have added such programs and services as Emergency Services and Food Pantry, Weatherization, RESTORE, Child Care Resource and Referral, ACT – Helping Youth ACT Responsibly, Budgeting Workshops, Energy packaging, an alternate HEAP site, Tax Assistance, The Main Street Store, Early Head Start, Community Action Angels.
In December, 2007, the Board of Directors decided to change the agency’s name to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee to unify the agency’s image and better reflect its service area. The new name became official in February, 2008, and the Board adopted a new logo in the spring.
Today we continue our work with a renewed focus on helping people to become self-sufficient. We continually analyze data and solicit community feedback to adjust our programs to meet the greatest needs, while working with partners to build a stronger community.
Orleans County Main Office
409 East State Street
Albion, NY 14411
Phone 589-5605
Fax 589-9015 Weatherization
Emergency Services/Family Development
Community Action Angels
Food Stamp Outreach
Holiday Baskets
1-888-867-3172 Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) (585) 589-5088
Main Street Thrift Store
131 South Main Street
Albion, NY 14411
Phone 585-589-1430
Quality Apparel and Home Décor
Employment Support Service
Job Skills Training
Public Computer Access ACT – Helping Youth ACT Responsibly (Platt Street entrance) (585) 589-5754
Genesee County Main Office
5073 Clinton Street Road
Batavia, NY 14020
Phone 343-7798, 1-888-871-9673
Fax 343-4063 Weatherization
Emergency Services/ Family Development
HEAP/Energy Packaging
Income Tax Assistance
Food Stamp Outreach
Community Action Angels Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R)
(585) 343-7727
Head Start Administrative Office
401 East State Street
Albion, NY 14411
Phone 589-5683
Fax 589-5712
Early Head Start 589-8159
Early Head Start Child Care Partnership
16 North Main Street
Albion, NY 14411
(585) 589-5321
Eastern Orleans Community Center
75 Public Square
Holley, NY 14470
Phone 638-6395, Fax – Same
Emergency Services/ Family Development
Congregate Meals
Public Computer Lab
Youth Programming
Holiday Baskets
Head Start/Early Head Start Sites
Batavia Site
5073 Clinton St. Road
Batavia, NY 14020
Phone 344-5917
Early Head Start 343-3807
Medina Site
123 Ensign St.
Medina, NY 14103
Phone 798-2261
Fax: 798-3512
Early Head Start 798-3735
Albion Central Schools Site
324 East Avenue
Albion, NY 14411
Phone 589-7097
Albion Site
411 E. State Street
Albion, NY 14411
Phone 589-7097
Kendall Central Schools Site
1932 Kendall Road
Kendall, NY 14476
Phone 659-8916