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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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Northern New York Community Foundation

Northern New York Community Foundation

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

Congratulations to Maddox Corey and Samantha Reynolds, the Class of 2026 recipients of the Northern New York Community Foundation Lewis and Ann Kibling Memorial Scholarship.

Maddox graduated in June from Watertown High School with a New York State Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation. He will attend SUNY Cortland this fall to study exercise science in a pre-physician’s assistant program. He also plans to continue his track and field career as a member of the Red Dragons pole vault program. Maddox is the son of Cortney Salisbury-Corey and Brett Corey, Watertown.

Samantha graduated in June from Lowville Academy and Central School with a New York State Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation. She will attend Onondaga Community College this fall to study physical education, where she also plans to continue her athletic career and play soccer for the Lazers. She aspires to become a physical education teacher. Samanatha is the daughter of Katie and Matt Reynolds, Lowville.

Maddox and Samantha recently met with Lewis and Ann’s children — Steve Kibling, Sue Kibling Gallagher, Sandy Kibling Drancsak, and Lew Kibling — who presented each of them with a $2,500 award to help them on their undergraduate journeys.

Margaret “Ann” and Lewis “Lew” Kibling left an indelible imprint on countless Northern New York students through decades of service as teachers, coaches, and mentors to youth across the region. The scholarship that honors their lives and legacies forever perpetuates their impact on North Country students.

The Lewis and Ann Kibling Memorial Scholarship was established at the Community Foundation in 2022 to provide support for graduating seniors attending college pursuing a degree in physical education or health studies. Like Lew and Ann, recipients will have demonstrated good character and be hard workers.

Pictured, from left, Steve Kibling; Sue Kibling Gallagher; scholarship recipients Samantha Reynolds and Maddox Corey; Sandy Kibling Drancsak; and Lew Kibling.

#NNYCF #FutureTeachers #ThoughtfulLegacy #ClassOf2026 #Scholars

Congratulations to Maddox Corey and Samantha Reynolds, the Class of 2026 recipients of the Northern New York Community Foundation Lewis and Ann Kibling Memorial Scholarship.

Maddox graduated in June from Watertown High School with a New York State Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation. He will attend SUNY Cortland this fall to study exercise science in a pre-physician’s assistant program. He also plans to continue his track and field career as a member of the Red Dragons pole vault program. Maddox is the son of Cortney Salisbury-Corey and Brett Corey, Watertown.

Samantha graduated in June from Lowville Academy and Central School with a New York State Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation. She will attend Onondaga Community College this fall to study physical education, where she also plans to continue her athletic career and play soccer for the Lazers. She aspires to become a physical education teacher. Samanatha is the daughter of Katie and Matt Reynolds, Lowville.

Maddox and Samantha recently met with Lewis and Ann’s children — Steve Kibling, Sue Kibling Gallagher, Sandy Kibling Drancsak, and Lew Kibling — who presented each of them with a $2,500 award to help them on their undergraduate journeys.

Margaret “Ann” and Lewis “Lew” Kibling left an indelible imprint on countless Northern New York students through decades of service as teachers, coaches, and mentors to youth across the region. The scholarship that honors their lives and legacies forever perpetuates their impact on North Country students.

The Lewis and Ann Kibling Memorial Scholarship was established at the Community Foundation in 2022 to provide support for graduating seniors attending college pursuing a degree in physical education or health studies. Like Lew and Ann, recipients will have demonstrated good character and be hard workers.

Pictured, from left, Steve Kibling; Sue Kibling Gallagher; scholarship recipients Samantha Reynolds and Maddox Corey; Sandy Kibling Drancsak; and Lew Kibling.

#NNYCF #FutureTeachers #ThoughtfulLegacy #ClassOf2026 #Scholars
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Well done!!

Congrats Sammy reynolds!!!

Congratulations to you both!!

Katie Reynolds

Samantha Reynolds is a superb choice…mature, determined and focused! congratulations to both!

Congratulations Maddox !👏👍and to Samantha Reynolds too!

Well done! Congratulations to both, well deserved!

Congratulations!

Congratulations Maddox !🎉- We’re so proud of you! — Kim and Gary ( friends of your grandma B )

WoooHOOOO!! Congratulations!!

Congratulations!

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We are pleased to announce the inaugural recipients of the Northern New York Community Foundation Friends of the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center Scholarship.

Representatives from the Friends of the Nature Center Board of Directors and the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center recently presented Thousand Islands High School graduate Sophia Cohen and Heuvelton High School graduate Connor G. Young with a $2,500 scholarship.

The two recent high school graduates share a passion for preserving the environment and each plan to pursue undergraduate studies in environmental-related fields of study.

Complete details below.

Minna Anthony Common Nature Center + Friends

#NNYCF #classof2026 #scholars #friendsofthenaturecenter
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First recipients of Community Foundation’s Friends of the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center Scholarship named

nnycf.org

First recipients of Community Foundation’s Friends of the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center Scholarship named July 27, 2026 By admin Recent high school graduates share a passion for the environment...
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congratulations!

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Meet South Jefferson High School rising sophomore Breckan Pelton.

For Breckan, “community means having people you can rely on; friends and family all within a close distance.

“Mannsville isn’t just a place to grow up. This community always strives to take care of one another. It may be a small town in size, but it has a large heart,” Breckan wrote in his winning essay.

Breckan is a Northern New York Community Foundation Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge winner. He chose the Mannsville Free Library to receive a $1,000 grant for its work and mission. 

“In a small village like Mannsville, there aren’t many places for socialization with your friends. When I was younger, my sister and my friends and I would meet at the library, which was always welcoming and featured our book recommendations,” he wrote. “I hope this grant award will provide Mannsville Library the opportuni-ty to purchase new books and host new activities for children so they can have the same memories and expe-riences as I did.”

Breckan recently met with Mannsville Free Library Director Anne Fuller and presented a $1,000 Youth Giving Challenge grant that will help the library continue its work. The grant is made possible by gifts to the Friends of the Foundation Community Betterment Annual Fund, corporate support from Community Bank, N.A. and a major gift from an individual donor.

Pictured, from left: Anne Fuller, Mannsville Library director, and Youth Giving Challenge winner and South Jefferson High School rising sophomore Breckan Pelton.

We are grateful to Breckan for his thoughtful effort. We are even more impressed that he is one of dozens of tri-county youths who looked inside their communities to recognize an organization that works to improve quality of life. Breckan is the son of Shelbie and James Pelton, Mannsville. 

The 2025-2026 Youth Giving Challenge asked seventh, eighth, and ninth-grade students from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to explain in an essay what community means to them and to choose a nonprofit that embodies their definition of community. Breckan’s essay is one of 20 chosen from nearly 80 submissions that came from 26 different tri-county schools.

Look for more photos and stories behind the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge in the coming weeks.

#NNYCF #MannsvilleFreeLibrary #CommunitySpirit #YouthGivingChallenge

Meet South Jefferson High School rising sophomore Breckan Pelton.

For Breckan, “community means having people you can rely on; friends and family all within a close distance.

“Mannsville isn’t just a place to grow up. This community always strives to take care of one another. It may be a small town in size, but it has a large heart,” Breckan wrote in his winning essay.

Breckan is a Northern New York Community Foundation Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge winner. He chose the Mannsville Free Library to receive a $1,000 grant for its work and mission.

“In a small village like Mannsville, there aren’t many places for socialization with your friends. When I was younger, my sister and my friends and I would meet at the library, which was always welcoming and featured our book recommendations,” he wrote. “I hope this grant award will provide Mannsville Library the opportuni-ty to purchase new books and host new activities for children so they can have the same memories and expe-riences as I did.”

Breckan recently met with Mannsville Free Library Director Anne Fuller and presented a $1,000 Youth Giving Challenge grant that will help the library continue its work. The grant is made possible by gifts to the Friends of the Foundation Community Betterment Annual Fund, corporate support from Community Bank, N.A. and a major gift from an individual donor.

Pictured, from left: Anne Fuller, Mannsville Library director, and Youth Giving Challenge winner and South Jefferson High School rising sophomore Breckan Pelton.

We are grateful to Breckan for his thoughtful effort. We are even more impressed that he is one of dozens of tri-county youths who looked inside their communities to recognize an organization that works to improve quality of life. Breckan is the son of Shelbie and James Pelton, Mannsville.

The 2025-2026 Youth Giving Challenge asked seventh, eighth, and ninth-grade students from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to explain in an essay what community means to them and to choose a nonprofit that embodies their definition of community. Breckan’s essay is one of 20 chosen from nearly 80 submissions that came from 26 different tri-county schools.

Look for more photos and stories behind the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge in the coming weeks.

#NNYCF #MannsvilleFreeLibrary #CommunitySpirit #YouthGivingChallenge
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2 weeks ago
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Outstanding job

Way to go Breckan!!!

Excellent job Breckan!

Congratulations!!

Great job Breckan!!

Congratulations Breckan!

Way to go, Breckan!

Well done Brecken!

Congratulations to both Breckan and the Mannsville Free Library. This is great!!

WTG Breckan! (Richard🤣🤣) I'm really proud of you!

Congratulations Breckan! Such a great feeling.

So thoughtful

Congratulations, Breckan! We love the Mannsville Library, too.

I love this! Breckan is a kind, caring, intelligent young man and we are so fortunate to have him as part of our community.

Congratulations.

Congratulations Breckan! 👏👏

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