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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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🥁 And the grand prize winner of the Class of 2026 Scholarship Challenge is … ... See MoreSee Less

22 hours ago
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Hi Tara!

Congratulations to Sackets Harbor School District 😊

Nice to put a face with the voice. Thank you Tara for your help with scholarship questions!

Congratulations ❤️❤️

Hi Tara !!

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Congratulations to all tri-county schools! Student applications for Community Foundation scholarship support reached a near all-time high this year with 584 student applications submitted by Sunday’s deadline!

Of the 37 school districts across our service area, 20 had 25 percent or greater student participation.

We are grateful for all who helped motivate and inspire the Class of 2026 to apply for Foundation scholarships this year. Teachers, parents, counselors, administrators, and students: Thank you!

In Jefferson County, a record eleven schools met or exceeded 25 percent student participation to set a new record of 361 student applications for 32 percent overall student participation! Faith Fellowship Christian School held its lead with 100 percent participation. Sackets Harbor Central handedly secured second place with 71 percent participation and LaFargeville Central ended in third with 53 percent student participation.

Lewis County also posted a new record of 96 student applications for 34 percent overall student participation. Lewis County’s leader is Copenhagen Central, with 54 percent participation. South Lewis Central secured second place with 39 percent participation, and Lowville Academy climbed 10 points in the final 36 hours again this year to take third place with 33 percent student participation.

St. Lawrence County’s leader is Little River Community School with 50 percent student participation! Parishville-Hopkinton Central led an impressive rally to take second place with 41 percent participation and Colton-Pierrepont Central held its ground for third place with 27 percent student participation.

Join us at 1 p.m. tomorrow for a special Facebook Live event to see who wins the grand prize of a $2,000 Community Foundation grant. The winner will be randomly selected from the top three overall schools in each county.

Learn more about this year’s challenge at: nnycf.org/scholarship-challenge-2026

#NNYCF #ScholarshipChallenge #ClassOf2026 #FundingForYourFutureImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

Congratulations to all tri-county schools! Student applications for Community Foundation scholarship support reached a near all-time high this year with 584 student applications submitted by Sunday’s deadline!

Of the 37 school districts across our service area, 20 had 25 percent or greater student participation.

We are grateful for all who helped motivate and inspire the Class of 2026 to apply for Foundation scholarships this year. Teachers, parents, counselors, administrators, and students: Thank you!

In Jefferson County, a record eleven schools met or exceeded 25 percent student participation to set a new record of 361 student applications for 32 percent overall student participation! Faith Fellowship Christian School held its lead with 100 percent participation. Sackets Harbor Central handedly secured second place with 71 percent participation and LaFargeville Central ended in third with 53 percent student participation.

Lewis County also posted a new record of 96 student applications for 34 percent overall student participation. Lewis County’s leader is Copenhagen Central, with 54 percent participation. South Lewis Central secured second place with 39 percent participation, and Lowville Academy climbed 10 points in the final 36 hours again this year to take third place with 33 percent student participation.

St. Lawrence County’s leader is Little River Community School with 50 percent student participation! Parishville-Hopkinton Central led an impressive rally to take second place with 41 percent participation and Colton-Pierrepont Central held its ground for third place with 27 percent student participation.

Join us at 1 p.m. tomorrow for a special Facebook Live event to see who wins the grand prize of a $2,000 Community Foundation grant. The winner will be randomly selected from the top three overall schools in each county.

Learn more about this year’s challenge at: nnycf.org/scholarship-challenge-2026

#NNYCF #ScholarshipChallenge #ClassOf2026 #FundingForYourFuture
... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago
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We are excited to share the Week 7 Scholarship Challenge Leaderboard! Only TWO DAYS left before this year’s application closes at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 15.

In Jefferson County, Faith Fellowship Christian School held its lead with 100 percent student participation! Sackets Harbor Central remains a strong second, increasing student participation to 67.86 percent. Eight additional schools have each passed 25 percent student participation.

In Lewis County, Copenhagen Central increased its lead to 45.95 percent student participation. South Lewis Central remains a string second, increasing its student participation to 36.62. 

In St. Lawrence County, Little River Community School took the lead with 50 percent student participation and Parishville-Hopkinton Central moved into a strong second with 33.33 percent participation while Colton-Pierrepont Central held onto third place with 26.92 percent student participation.

Seniors: Do you plan to continue your education in college or trade or technical school? Money for your future is waiting! Complete the Community Foundation’s online Universal Application at bit.ly/nnycf-scholarships today and help your school win!

We will post a final leaderboard on Tuesday. A special Facebook live event to select the Scholarship Challenge grand prize winner will take place at 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 18.

Learn more about this year’s challenge at: nnycf.org/scholarship-challenge-2026

#NNYCF #ScholarshipChallenge #ClassOf2026 #FundingForYourFutureImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

We are excited to share the Week 7 Scholarship Challenge Leaderboard! Only TWO DAYS left before this year’s application closes at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 15.

In Jefferson County, Faith Fellowship Christian School held its lead with 100 percent student participation! Sackets Harbor Central remains a strong second, increasing student participation to 67.86 percent. Eight additional schools have each passed 25 percent student participation.

In Lewis County, Copenhagen Central increased its lead to 45.95 percent student participation. South Lewis Central remains a string second, increasing its student participation to 36.62.

In St. Lawrence County, Little River Community School took the lead with 50 percent student participation and Parishville-Hopkinton Central moved into a strong second with 33.33 percent participation while Colton-Pierrepont Central held onto third place with 26.92 percent student participation.

Seniors: Do you plan to continue your education in college or trade or technical school? Money for your future is waiting! Complete the Community Foundation’s online Universal Application at bit.ly/nnycf-scholarships today and help your school win!

We will post a final leaderboard on Tuesday. A special Facebook live event to select the Scholarship Challenge grand prize winner will take place at 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 18.

Learn more about this year’s challenge at: nnycf.org/scholarship-challenge-2026

#NNYCF #ScholarshipChallenge #ClassOf2026 #FundingForYourFuture
... See MoreSee Less

6 days ago
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