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Northern New York Community Foundation

Northern New York Community Foundation

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Community Foundation Awards $59,000 in Support to Food Pantries Across Northern New York

December 19, 2024 By admin

Funding for 47 Tri-County Locations Includes Grants to School-Based Pantries

     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 the Foundation’s Community Support 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.

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 for essential needs. (Kara Dry Photography)

     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
  • 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

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.

Filed Under: Recent News

Northern New York Community Foundation

131 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601

Phone: 315-782-7110
Fax: 315-782-0047

info@nnycf.org

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Northern New York Community Foundation

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Working with donors to benefit the community through grants and scholarships since 1929.

Voting for this years Canstruction for Northern New York “People’s Choice Award” is now open! Voting will remain open through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, April 15. 

🗳 Cast your vote at bit.ly/Canstruction-Vote-26

The LEAD Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation introduced Canstruction for Northern New York in 2023 to engage local schools and student groups in collecting donated canned food, nonperishable food items, and hygiene products to support regional food pantries or local backpack programs.

This year, the Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Council led the competition as a Council service project.

5️⃣ Five finalists submitted projects for “People’s Choice Award” consideration. 
✔️ Project descriptions are found with each photo, so please review all photos 📸 and videos 🎥 for each submission.
🚧 Terrific work completed by all FIVE teams that entered this year’s competition!
🥫 Each structure is made from donated items that will be given to local food pantries and backpack programs of the participants’ choice!
👋 We need YOUR VOTE for your favorite project starting TODAY! Polls will remain open for the “People’s Choice Award” until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, April 15. 🗳️ Vote for your favorite Canstruction project! 
🤝 All awards 🏆 will be announced 📣 late next week. The Youth Philanthropy Council will award funding to winning participants, who will direct monies to support local nonprofit organizations.

This year’s finalists are: 
🥫 Beaver River Central School’s 9th Grade Earth Science Class with “Pack It Up”
🥫 Carthage Middle School’s Student Government & Builders Club with “Bee”
🥫 First Presbyterian Church of Watertown’s Sunday School Class & Youth Group with “Food Steeple”
🥫 South Jefferson Central School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions chapter with “Be the Light in Someone’s Storm”
🥫 Watertown High School’s Student Council with “Turn Hunger on Its Head”
1️⃣ One finalist — Carthage Middle School — submitted a video    🎥 of their project. 
 👀 View Carthage Middle School’s video 🎥 at youtu.be/QsdzVsfxyyU
🕵️‍♀️ See what these students have to say about their projects and cast your vote today!
🙌 Excellent community endeavor helping our region in a variety of ways!

#NNYCF #YPC #Leadership #Canstruction #FoodInsecurity #Vote #PeoplesChoiceImage attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

Voting for this year's Canstruction for Northern New York “People’s Choice Award” is now open! Voting will remain open through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, April 15.

🗳 Cast your vote at bit.ly/Canstruction-Vote-26

The LEAD Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation introduced Canstruction for Northern New York in 2023 to engage local schools and student groups in collecting donated canned food, nonperishable food items, and hygiene products to support regional food pantries or local backpack programs.

This year, the Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Council led the competition as a Council service project.

5️⃣ Five finalists submitted projects for “People’s Choice Award” consideration.
✔️ Project descriptions are found with each photo, so please review all photos 📸 and videos 🎥 for each submission.
🚧 Terrific work completed by all FIVE teams that entered this year’s competition!
🥫 Each structure is made from donated items that will be given to local food pantries and backpack programs of the participants’ choice!
👋 We need YOUR VOTE for your favorite project starting TODAY! Polls will remain open for the “People’s Choice Award” until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, April 15. 🗳️ Vote for your favorite Canstruction project!
🤝 All awards 🏆 will be announced 📣 late next week. The Youth Philanthropy Council will award funding to winning participants, who will direct monies to support local nonprofit organizations.

This year’s finalists are:
🥫 Beaver River Central School’s 9th Grade Earth Science Class with “Pack It Up”
🥫 Carthage Middle School’s Student Government & Builders Club with “Bee”
🥫 First Presbyterian Church of Watertown’s Sunday School Class & Youth Group with “Food Steeple”
🥫 South Jefferson Central School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions chapter with “Be the Light in Someone’s Storm”
🥫 Watertown High School’s Student Council with “Turn Hunger on Its Head”
1️⃣ One finalist — Carthage Middle School — submitted a video 🎥 of their project.
👀 View Carthage Middle School’s video 🎥 at youtu.be/QsdzVsfxyyU
🕵️‍♀️ See what these students have to say about their projects and cast your vote today!
🙌 Excellent community endeavor helping our region in a variety of ways!

#NNYCF #YPC #Leadership #Canstruction #FoodInsecurity #Vote #PeoplesChoice
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19 hours ago
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It’s Who’s YPC!

Click through the post to learn more about one of our newest members, Valerie Akins, a Carthage High School junior who is in her first year of Council service!

Be sure to follow our page to meet more members of the Youth Philanthropy Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation every Monday and Wednesday. 🌱

#YPC #CommunityFoundation #NNYCF #WhosYPC #NextGeneration #LeadershipImage attachmentImage attachment

It’s Who’s YPC!

Click through the post to learn more about one of our newest members, Valerie Akins, a Carthage High School junior who is in her first year of Council service!

Be sure to follow our page to meet more members of the Youth Philanthropy Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation every Monday and Wednesday. 🌱

#YPC #CommunityFoundation #NNYCF #WhosYPC #NextGeneration #Leadership
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2 days ago
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Congratulations 👏. So proud of you!

Yay Val! 👏

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We are pleased to announce a $10,000 grant package to support this year’s Concert in the Park event.

Total funding includes an initial $5,000 grant and an up to $5,000 matching grant commitment to support first time contributions for this year’s concert. That means the Community Foundation will double all new gifts made in support of this year’s performance by those who have not previously participated.

Gifts may be made securely online at bit.ly/2026-Park-Concert, or by mail to: Northern New York Community Foundation, 131 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601.

Complete details below.

#NNYCF #ConcertInThePark #NoonRotary #Partnerships #MatchingGrant #America250
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New Match Offered to Help Ensure Success for this Summer’s Concert in the Park

nnycf.org

New Match Offered to Help Ensure Success for this Summer’s Concert in the Park April 3, 2026 By admin Foundation Will Double All New Gifts to Support this Year’s Event, up to $5,000 WATERTOWN — ...
5 days ago
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