C10 Saturday, August 19, 2023 The DAILY News

we are

neighbors helping neighbors

Non-profits play
important roles
Organizations help meet
crucial community needs
By KORI SCIANDRA
ksciandra@batavianews.com
Non-profits are a cru-
cial component to the
success of our communi-
ties.
Whether it’s an orga-
nization such as Com-
munity Action, which
helps provide informa-
tion about community
resources like social ser-
vices, senior services and
support groups or Hearts
for the Homeless, which
help to clothe and feed
BEN BEAGLE/LIVINGSTON COUNTY NEWS the chronically homeless,
Dr. Arnold Matlin, left, one of the founders of the Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace talks with longtime antinuclear non-profit organizations
activist Clare Grady during the May 7, 2022, 50th anniversary celebration for GVCP. Grady was presented with the help meet community
Genesee Valley Peacemaker Award at the event. needs including foods,
aged 14 to 25 – if every-
body knew that, wouldn’t
it make you think I need
to understand this (eating
disorders) better,” said
Ellen. “Eating disorders
are not a choice, people
don’t want one.”
Since her daughter lost
her life after her a lengthy
battle with anorexia, El-
len has committed herself
to informing others about
the severity of eating dis-
orders.
“Eating disorders over-
whelm the individual. By
the time they realize there
is a problem and be-
cause these are diseases

A beacon for peace

GVCP: Grassroots group continues movement begun 51 years ago
By BEN BEAGLE
ben@livingstonnews.com
Three area couples
founded the Genesee Val-
ley Citizens for Peace in
1972, joining a national ef-
fort to try and bring an end
to the Vietnam War. Arnold
and Margaret Matlin, Lilita
and Fred Lassen, and Roger
and Mary Ann Smith had
been gathering with other
groups to oppose the war
against Vietnam.
“There was no peace
group in Livingston County
so we said let’s start one,”
recalled Arnold Matlin, a
long-time pediatrician in
Livingston County.
The war ended, but the
group stayed on to focus on
the anti-nuclear and peace
struggle. In its 51st year,
GVCP continues to draw
attention to the threat of
nuclear weapons, the costs
– both fiscal and physical –
of war, and the need to seek
resolutions without going
to war.
GVCP, with a mix of gen-
erations among its mem-
bers, has also helped con-
nect similar groups and
played an instrumental
role in guiding the creation
of Geneseo Peace Action, a
sister group to GVCP lead
by SUNY Geneseo stu-
dents.
“We are needed more
than ever,” says Holly Ad-
ams of Hunt, who has taken
a leading role in the organi-
zation in recent years. “We
stand closer to the brink;
closer then we ever have in
my lifetime.”
Earlier this month, GVCP
gathered with Rochester
Chapter 23 Veterans for
Peace for the GVCP’s an-
nual vigil to remember
the victims of the atomic
bombings in Hiroshima
and Nagasaki and call for
the elimination of nuclear
weapons. It’s a vigil that
the GVCP has conducted
in Avon’s Circle Park for 49
years.
Adams said she joined
GVCP because she felt a
need to do something.
“I needed to find like-
minded people who shared
“Offering help for the Journey” awareness,” Adams said.
Our Goals
• Alleviate some of the difficulties experienced by cancer patients,
their families and caregivers, by providing financial assistance
and a variety of free support services-including the Simply
Beautiful program.
• Offer patients the knowledge of where and how to gain access to
useful information and other services available.
• Provide patients with helpful resources regarding their diagnosis.
Working Together We Make A Difference!
(585) 345-0417 • GeneseeCancerAssistance.org roots organizations such
goods and resources. of disconnection, de-
Food such as Meals on nial and secrecy, people
Wheels and programs don’t understand them.
through the Office for the Sometimes somebody (a
Aging offer community parent or guardian) may
dining options including see cause for alarm but
meals delivered directly
to your loved one’s door
it’s often dismissed as a
phase or something that
and opportunities for the gets excused away,” said
elderly friends and fam- Ellen.
ily members in your life She continued, “By the
to have access to a warm time you realize it’s a true
meal, daily. eating disorder such as
Non-profit organiza- anorexia, bulimia, binge/
tions make a difference purge or something else
in our communities and – the eating disorder is
leave a lasting impact raging, which means it’s
with how many people really entrenched and
they’re able to help meet there needs to be inter-
various needs. vention.”
KMB for Answers
Informing others specializes in sharing
Among those im- information with schools,
pactful organizations is colleges, and struggling
KMB for Answers, a not- individuals within the
for-profit organization community.
dedicated to expanding Ellen has spoken to
awareness, knowledge, middle and high schools
understanding, support on a local level in the
BEN BEAGLE/LIVINGSTON COUNTY NEWS and options for those GLOW region including
Lilita Lassen-Ward speaks during the Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace’s 50th impacted by eating dis- Geneseo, Livonia, Le Roy
anniversary celebration in Geneseo’s Highland Park on May 7, 2022. Lassen-Ward was orders. BOCES and Rochester as
one of six founders of Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace and she continues to be involved KMB for Answers, well as on a national level.
with the organization. which operates out of She’s a lobbyist to help
Honeoye Falls, was initi- fight for better access
my concerns about war ated by Ellen Bennett, in and treatment for those
and the military-industrial
memory of her daughter, suffering from eating dis-
complex,” she said. “I was Katlyn Mary Bennett, orders both at a state level
looking to do something to who passed away in in Albany and a national
be active. It’s hard to stand 2013 at 25 years old after level in Washington, D.C.
by when things are hap- struggling with anorexia. She’s also involved in the
pening that scare you. I Katlyn’s struggle with an- Academy for Eating Dis-
needed to be part of an or- orexia began as an ado- orders, which is an inter-
ganization that was actively lescent at 11 years old. national organization.
trying to realize a change.” “Eating disorders im- The organization also
One of Adams’ main fo- pact all of us and the gen- offers Teen Advisors who
cuses is calling attention to eral public doesn’t realize advocate, participate and
The Treaty on the Prohibi- that the myths (about volunteer to raise aware-
tion of Nuclear Weapons, eating disorders) have ness in support of KMB’s
a disarmament agreement persevered. The myths mission.
negotiated and adopted at BEN BEAGLE/LIVINGSTON COUNTY NEWS continue. Katie died 10 “The cure is nourish-
the United Nations in 2017. A button from Peace Action NY says “Peace demands years ago and when she ment, but it takes a team
The treaty, which prohibits action.” The Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace has helped died, I didn’t know that – a doctor, a dietician, a
nuclear weapons and es- connect similar groups in its 51 years history. anorexia had a 20% mor- counselor and maybe a
tablishes a legal framework tality rate. If someone psychiatrist. There is no
for the elimination of such politicians, organizations as GVCP can make a differ- told you this disease has pill,” said Ellen.
weapons, has been signed and other people on board ence in the global discus- a 20% mortality rate and
See KMB C11
by 92 countries, but not the to build a wave of sup- sion. in particular for women
United States. port for the treaty from the “The White House needs
pressure from grassroots
Adams serves on an in- ground up,” Adams said.
campaigns, and so does
ternational committee of “Leaders give lip service
peace group representa- about their concerns, but Congress,” she said. “How
do we get Congress to act?
tives that meets monthly we need them to take ac-
as it works to get the Unit- tion. The world is very dan- They need to hear from us.”
Members’ voices may
ed States and other gov- gerous.”
ernments to sign join the Members of GVCP have come from letters, emails,
calls and most strongly
treaty. The monthly calls gathered on street corners
from individuals and orga-
may include like-minded in Geneseo braced against
nizations working together
folks from Germany and the blustery chill in March to reach out to many differ-
England and while they to note the first anniver-
ent sectors to get their de-
may not always agree on sary of Russia’s invasion of sired message heard.
all points, Adams said, they Ukraine and call for an end “Sometimes it feels
are able to find some com- of the war through nego- lonely, many times we are
monalities. tiations - “Talk not tanks,”
attacked,” Benjamin said.
“Our goal is to get was the theme of the GVCP “But I feel momentum is
gathering, which took place
on our side and the global
among hundreds of others
community is on our side.”
throughout the country.
Last May, GVCP marked
“Anything that we do
its 50th anniversary with a
that people notice, it builds celebration in Geneseo’s
Highland Park that fea-
In the spring, GVCP ar- tured longtime antinuclear
ranged for activist and activist Clare Grady as a
author Medea Benjamin guest speaker and brought
to stop in Geneseo on peace group representa-
her book tour. Benjamin tives from across the state.
spoke about the situation The anniversary, said
in Ukraine, the long history Jim Anderson of Peace Ac- PHOTO COURTESY OF KMB FOR ANSWERS
of conflict in the region, tion New York, “makes
and how even small, grass- The late Katlyn Mary Bennett passed away at 25 years
See PEACE C11 old after a long battle with anorexia.
 The DAILY News Saturday, August 19, 2023 C11

we are

neighbors helping neighbors

KMB and raise awareness. Ask helps to treat substance
Peace people that we need to

From C10
Some signs that may in-
dicate an eating disorder
are disordered eating and
changes in mood and/
or behavior. Ellen noted
eating disorders do not
us to come speak. The
most important thing is
that everyone needs to
be aware and we’re a first
stop,” said Ellen. “Eating
disorders are going to im-
pact every single person at
some point in their lives.
That is the reality. The rate
of diagnosis is increasing
use disorders, but also
mental health and co-
occurring disorders. They
help provide outreach
and social help connec-
tions such as housing,
food and referrals for
other providers.
This month, CASA-
Trinity is hosting the 5th
From C10
represents a legacy
Genesee Valley Citizens
for Peace a beacon in the
movement for peace.”
“All the things people
say they want, Genesee
Valley Citizens for Peace
‘ Genesee Valley
Citizens for Peace
solve them.”
Jones said that the lon-
gevity of GVCP is notable.
“Fifty years is a couple
lifetimes for some groups,”
to endurance and Jones said. “It takes a huge
making good amount of dedication for a
group to go one year, much
trouble out of a less 50.”
sense of Matlin said one of the

discriminate and they
can affect people in larger
bodies as well with disor-
ders such as anorexia or
bulimia. It’s a myth that
only people who are really
thin could possibly have
an eating disorder.
“The disease is brain
based. It’s a bio-psycho-
social disease with genetic
underpinning,” said El-
len.
Though there is not
a lot of research widely
available on eating dis-
orders, the research has
increased within the last
five years.
Since Katlyn’s passing
10 years ago, Ellen noted
both the research pertain-
ing to the disease and the
available medical treat-
everywhere and it’s expo-
nential.”
For more information
or to contact KMB for
Answers, visit KMB for
answers.com or email
kmbforanswers1@gmail.
com. KMB for Answers
also has a podcast, “Once
Shattered; Picking Up the
Pieces,” which focuses on
a variety of mental health
and eating disorders. El-
len shares the podcast
with Linda and Jack Ma-
zur.
Shattering stigmas
CASA-Trinity is one the
last remaining Councils
on Alcohol and Substance
Abuse left in New York.
The council not only
annual Color Run/Walk 4
Recovery 5k. The event is
slated for Saturday, Aug.
26 in Dansville.
The intent of the event
is to help shatter the
stigma associated with
addiction, and to increase
awareness and under-
standing within the com-
munity of substance use
and mental health dis-
orders. The run helps to
promote the knowledge
that prevention works,
treatment is available,
and that people can and
do recover.
To register for the Color
Run or for more informa-
tion on CASA-Trinity, visit
casa-trinity.org.
have been doing,” Ander-
son said. “They are a classic
example for anyone who
organizes to see what com-
ing out and long service
mean.”
He called GVCP “inspira-
tional in so many ways.”
“Genesee Valley Citi-
zens for Peace represents
a living testimony, a legacy
to endurance and making
good trouble and doing so
out of a sense of humanity,”
Anderson said. “Arnie and
his crew are really special.”
Sally Jones of Staten
Island Peace Action said
groups such as GVCP were
needed to “work together
to solve our differences and
inform our world about nu-
clear weapons and possible
’
humanity
Jim Anderson
Peace Action New York
destruction.”
“Peace groups remind
us that we have to figure
out how to resolve our
conflicts without going to
war,” Jones said. “We’re
not going to solve all prob-
lems, but we can remind
hallmarks of GVCP is that
is was formed to be – and
remains – a non-partisan
organization. “We push
every government official
for peace, not by party,” he
said, noting GVCP itself is
non-heirarcheral with no
officers. The group rotates
its conveners and values all
members equally, he said.
“We are not a club; we
are a peace group,” Matlin
said. “We have goals and a
job to do.”

We Appreciate You!
ment for those suffering
from an eating disorder as
an adult has advanced.
There is still significant
room to advance further,
but Ellen is optimistic
about the state of research
and available resources.
The best way to address
a possible eating disorder
is to start talking about
it. The age of impact for
eating disorders has got- “IT’S WHAT We are
ten younger and younger WE DO” ready anytime!
over the years. There is a
significant percentage of
8-year-old children that
are concerned they are 78 Years in Business
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Our Mission is to provide support
and education to raise awareness
and understanding to reduce
shame and stigma for anyone
impacted by an eating disorder,
disordered eating, and body image.
KMB is located in the GLOW Region • Established 2013
Contact information: KMBforAnswers.org
KMBforAnswers1@gmail.com Monday-Friday 9-5, Saturday 10-4