Community Foundation Awards $59,000 in Support to Food Pantries Across Northern New York
Dec 20, 2024 12:43PM ● By Nicole Petrus
WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation will provide $59,000 in support this year to 47 local food pantries, soup kitchens, and school-based backpack programs in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.
The total support includes $40,000 to 37 organizations across the region that the Foundation’s Board of Directors approved as year-end aid during its December meeting. The grants will help strengthen programs and stock shelves at community food pantries and soup kitchens across the tri-county region. A total of $19,000 was awarded through that fund to 14 tri-county organizations already this year. “Because of the commitment and generosity of community foundation donors past and present, we are pleased to provide this type of support all throughout the region, especially as we enter the holidays and winter months,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “We know the need continues to be great, and we are hopeful this helps cast a wide net to help those who are struggling in the counties we serve.”
Pantries and soup kitchens receiving year-end support may utilize it to secure the most important supplies for their clients, including food, hygiene products, and other grocery items not available through the Food Bank.
Organizations receiving year-end grant support include:
Jefferson County
■ Antwerp Food Pantry
■ Clayton Council of Churches Food Pantry
■ Feed Our Vets Watertown Food Pantry
■ Gwen’s Food Pantry, LaFargeville
■ Indian River Baptist Church Food Pantry
■ Indian River Middle School Backpack Program
■ Jefferson Community College Food Pantry
■ Sackets Harbor Central School Backpack Program
■ St. Mary’s Food Pantry, Evans Mills
■ St. Paul’s of Redwood Food Pantry
■ The Rohde Center, Adams
■ The Salvation Army of Watertown
■ Theresa Food Pantry
■ Thousand Islands Central School Backpack Program
■ Watertown City School District Food Pantry
■ Watertown Urban Mission
Lewis County
■ Croghan Food Pantry
■ Lowville Food Pantry
St. Lawrence County
■ Christian Fellowship Center Food Pantry, Madrid
■ Church and Community Program Churches of Canton
■ Clifton-Fine Central School Food Pantry
■ Free Community Meal Soup Kitchen, Star Lake
■ Free Will Meal Program Soup Kitchen, Canton
■ Gouverneur-Richville Christian Fellowship Food Pantry
■ Heuvelton Central School District Food Pantry
■ Massena First United Methodist Church Soup Kitchen
■ New Beginnings Clothing and Food Outreach, Madrid
■ Ogdensburg Snackpack Program
■ Parishville-Hopkinton Central School Backpack Program
■ Potsdam Snack Pack Program
■ Richville Baptist Chapel Food Pantry
■ Salvation Army of Massena
■ St. Lawrence County Community Development Program
■ St. Peter’s Outreach Ministry, Massena
■ Star Lake Food Pantry
■ Tri-Town Community Services Food Pantry, Brasher Falls
■ Waddington Family Resource Center Pantry
Organizations that previously received a share of $19,000 in Community Support Fund grant support this year include:
Jefferson County
■ Alexandria Community Thrift Store
■ Cape Vincent Community Food Pantry
■ Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County
■ St. Mary’s Food Pantry, Evans Mills
■ Village Ecumenical Ministries, Carthage
Lewis County
■ Lewis County Opportunities
St. Lawrence County
■ Community Lunch Program for Kids, Norwood
■ Grasse River Food Pantry, Russell
■ Hammond Food Pantry
About the Northern New York Community Foundation
Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.
The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.
■ Helping Hands of Potsdam
■ Heuvelton Central School District Food Pantry
■ Norfolk-Raymondville Food Pantry
■ Massena First United Methodist Church Soup Kitchen
■ Potsdam Snack Pack Program
CAPTION: Volunteers help clients at
the Salvation Army of Watertown during
a weekly food distribution in April 2023.
The Salvation Army of Watertown is one
of 47 organizations receiving Community
Foundation grant support this year for
essential needs.
MUST CREDIT: Kara Dry Photography
