Project Aims to Combat Food Insecurity, Restock Local Food Pantries, Backpack Programs

     WATERTOWN — The LEAD Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation invites local students at tri-county schools and organized student groups in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to participate in an impactful and creative project to help reduce food insecurity across the North Country.

     The “Canstruction for Northern New York” initiative is back for a second year as a group activity to encourage students to team up and construct a fun, themed structure made of donated canned food and other nonperishable food items or hygiene products to support a local food pantry or backpack program of their choice.

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Thirteen Projects Receive Funding to Strengthen Student Culture, Building Security

     WATERTOWN — The Safe Schools Endeavor, in partnership with the Northern New York Community Foundation, will award nearly $24,000 in grant support to fund 13 projects in 12 Jefferson and Lewis County schools for the 2023-2024 school year.

     The Safe Schools Endeavor Steering Committee reviewed more than a dozen applications for funding to support programs that empower students, parents, and faculty to create the safest schools possible in Jefferson and Lewis counties. This is the fifth year the fund has awarded grant support. Since its inception, the Safe Schools Endeavor has awarded $103,326 for 56 school projects in Jefferson and Lewis counties.

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Funding Provided to Seven Additional St. Lawrence County Pantries in Recent Months 

     WATERTOWN — A $4,000 Northern New York Community Foundation grant will support six St. Lawrence Community Development Program Neighborhood Center food pantries this winter.

     Managed by the St. Lawrence County Community Development Program, the food pantries are based in Neighborhood Centers located in Canton, Colton/Pierrepont/Parishville, Gouverneur, Massena, Ogdensburg, and Potsdam. Since September 2022, the pantries have combined to help an average of 647 families every month, cumulatively serving more than 2,000 St. Lawrence County households. 

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Nearly 130 Northern New York Middle School Students in Three Counties Participate in Seventh Annual Challenge

     WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation is pleased to announce $10,000 in Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge grants to 10 nonprofit organizations that serve Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

     Now in its seventh year, the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge was open to all tri-county middle school students. This year’s program committee reviewed 128 entries from seventh and eighth graders in nine different school districts who recommended grants to nearly 75 different organizations that serve residents across the three counties.

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Young Professionals Boost Community Initiatives in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties

     WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation’s LEAD Council will award $6,738 through its Holiday Giving Fund to three programs that make the holidays special for Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence County residents.

     The advisory committee of young professionals established the LEAD Holiday Giving Fund at the Community Foundation in 2020 to help brighten the season for tri-county residents in need. Between generous gifts to the fund and a matching commitment from the Community Foundation, three nonprofits that manage holiday programs will each receive $2,246 in support to strengthen their efforts. They include:

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