When the lines of cars begin to form outside St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Rome, New York — one of four churches under the newly-minted Sacred Heart Parish umbrella — on the second Friday of each month, it’s a reminder of how a community can come together with neighbors helping neighbors.
Through a powerful collaboration among the Project Fibonacci® Foundation, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and the Food Bank of Central New York, hundreds of families across the Mohawk Valley receive nutritious food and a renewed sense of hope each month.
What began as an emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into one of the region’s most reliable lifelines for families in need. Since its launch in 2020, the Community Coming Together monthly food distribution has provided more than 119,000 pounds of food — that’s roughly 65 tons — to households from all over the Mohawk Valley.
A collaboration rooted in compassion
The program is led by Bob Bojanek, of Sacred Heart Parish, who recognized how deeply food insecurity affected local families during the pandemic and took action. Rallying a team of more than 70 volunteers from Project Fibonacci®, Sacred Heart Parish, Catholic Daughters and the Rome Rescue Mission, Bojanek built a monthly operation that now serves around 500 families — or about 1,300 individuals — each month.
Each month’s event is a feat of coordination and generosity. Backed by grants from the Food Bank of Central New York, the McDevitt Foundation and the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, along with support from the nonprofit Project Fibonacci® Foundation and corporate sponsorship from ANDRO Computational Solutions LLC, the initiative ensures that every family receives around 40 pounds of fresh food, from produce and grains to proteins and pantry staples.
As the region faces new challenges, including a temporary suspension of SNAP benefits during the government shutdown, the need has surged. November’s event — scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at 210 East Dominick St. in Rome — is expected to serve up to 600 families, perhaps more, with volunteers preparing 100 additional dry-goods bags to meet demand.
Participants attending this year’s event who are arriving by car should enter the parking lot from Bouck Street, across from Ace Hardware, while walkers can check in for pickup on-site.
Supporting families through partnership
At the heart of this initiative is the belief that everyone needs to eat nutritious food products. That’s why ANDRO President and Project Fibonacci® founder Dr. Andrew Drozd continues to make the cause a corporate, nonprofit and personal priority.
“ANDRO Computational Solutions LLC is a community-minded company that is more than willing to invest a portion of its annual profits in support of good causes, especially those that benefit urgent community needs,” said Drozd. “One of these is the monthly food drive sponsored in collaboration with Rome’s Sacred Heart Parish / St. John the Baptist Catholic Church’s Human Development Fund, the Project Fibonacci® Foundation and the CNY Food Bank, centered on addressing local area food insecurity.”
Drozd noted that this year marks ANDRO’s fifth consecutive year supporting the drive — not only through funding, but also through donations of food, school supplies and employee volunteerism. “Our efforts on behalf of the food drive this month have never been more important,” he added. “People without means need a boost, particularly during these challenging times. I’m proud to support that and lead the way for others to lend a helping hand.”
Building a year of impact
The Project Fibonacci® Foundation’s mission extends far beyond supplying food to the community. It’s about creating pathways to opportunity across every corner of the Mohawk Valley. Over the past year, the foundation has continued to strengthen that mission through a series of transformative initiatives designed to empower, educate and uplift with a focus on bridging the Arts into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) to enhance local/regional STEAM workforce preparedness outcomes.
• STEAM Women Rising Symposium: This event brought together more than 150 students and educators from 11 districts to connect with trailblazing women entrepreneurs in science, business and technology. The event celebrated mentorship, resilience and the power of representation — reminding students that leadership in STEAM is achievable for everyone.
• AnnualSTEAM Leadership Conference: That momentum carried into the summer with the seventh annual Project Fibonacci® STEAM leadership conference, themed “The Science of the Unknown: Living in a Material World.” The weeklong program invited high school students from across the state to explore big ideas — from AI and scientific exploration to space-age materials science and creative problem-solving — while developing teamwork, communication and leadership skills. The 2025 conference showcased the local companies leading the way in modern materials research, development, and manufacturing that included Indium Corporation, Wolfspeed, Revere Copper, and others in the hope of linking students to future internship and job opportunities in the Mohawk Valley as part of a broader effort aimed at youth talent retention.
• Tap Into STEAM: In September, the foundation once again rallied the community for an event that blended local music, craft beer and philanthropy to kick off Mohawk Valley Gives, the region’s largest day of giving, in cooperation with the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and the UpMobility Foundation. The fundraiser not only supported student scholarships but also contributed to critical food insecurity programs like the monthly distribution at St. John’s Church.
Together, these programs reflect a year defined by generosity, collaboration and the belief that education and community go hand in hand. Whether inspiring future innovators or providing tangible support to families in need, the Project Fibonacci® Foundation continues to prove that science, technology, compassion and creativity can shape a stronger, more equitable future for all.
Read the full story here: https://www.romesentinel.com/how-the-project-fibonacci-foundation-is-working-with-local-partners-to-fight-food-insecurity-in/article_3e34ff13-13fd-46ae-a31b-9040147e3323.html
