This month we're delighted to shine the spotlight on our 1,213th Member-Owner, The Rev. Canon John Perris (Ret.)!  As soon as he joined our co-op, John (he goes by his baptismal name) jumped right in to our collective efforts by taking a lead on reaching out to our faith-based communities!

As a parish priest (Anglican/Episcopal) serving parishioners in Europe and North America, John observed often the great importance of purposeful activity and meaningful connections with neighbors in retirement.  So, when he and his wife retired upstate, John jumped right into getting to know clergy and congregations of different faiths around Schenectady and learning about other organizations that act to care for their neighbors. This brought John’s attention to our co-op!  

We are so grateful to John for fostering connections with faith communities in our area who share our commitments to nourishing neighbors, caring for the earth, and supporting our regional farmers! Please read on to learn more about him!

1.What do you like about being part of the co-op community? 

Especially when it seems that power is increasingly concentrated in fewer hands, local-member organizations offer the opportunity to work together for the common good. Having belonged to one of the oldest food coops in the United States, I see them as a sustainable way of making affordable and nutritious food available to more people. I have enjoyed getting to know those who have worked hard over many years to make a food coop a reality in Schenectady.

2.What will having a downtown grocery mean to you?

This is definitely huge, and monumental. Location and access for the entire community. Centrally located, we now will have access to locally sourced, fresh, quality food within bus/walking distance. The co-op will create jobs, and countless other opportunities for the community.

The location of the Food Coop at the corner of Erie Boulevard and State Street looks ideal for service to those who live in the surrounding neighborhoods, as well as those who work downtown.  I expect its accessibility by car, on foot and by bus will contribute further to the revitalization that Schenectady has enjoyed over the last two decades.

3. What do you love about Schenectady?

My wife and I value the diversity of cultures that is reflected in the foods and festivals of the Electric City, as well as the many opportunities for film, talks and theater.  On top of that, Schenectady is surrounded by natural beauty and convenient to many places of interest.  While we live outside the Stockade, we value that neighborhood as a historical treasure and happily take part in its activities – and Union College is an excellent resource for lifelong learning.  Finally, we love that my wife’s friend and her husband have lived here for decades and made it so much easier for us to move to an old house in a new city!