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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.

Together with the Italian-American Civic Association, we are pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the William I. Graf Award. 

Watertown High School seniors Marra Dickinson was selected as the women’s recipient, and Maddox J. Corey was named as the men’s honoree this year.

We are honored to help the Graf family and the Italian-American Civic Association steward this highly cherished and storied legacy award. We look forward to seeing these three talented student athletes continue their journeys on and off the athletic field as they advance to undergraduate studies this fall.

Complete details: nnycf.org/2026-graf-award

Top photo, from left: Watertown High School seniors and 2026 William I. Graf Award recipients Marra Dickinson and Maddox J. Corey. 

Bottom left photo, from left: Watertown High School Director of Health, PE, & Athletics Greg Russo; 2026 William I. Graf Award recipient and Watertown High School senior Marra Dickinson; Italian-American Civic Association President Michael Lettiere and Italian-American Civic Association Vice President Pasquale Surace. 

Bottom right photo, from left: Watertown High School Director of Health, PE, & Athletics Greg Russo; 2026 William I. Graf Award recipient and Watertown High School senior Maddox J. Corey; Italian-American Civic Association President Michael Lettiere and Italian-American Civic Association Vice President Pasquale Surace. 

#NNYCF #ClassOf2026 #GrafAward #WHS #IACA #ThoughtfulLegacyImage attachmentImage attachment

Together with the Italian-American Civic Association, we are pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the William I. Graf Award.

Watertown High School seniors Marra Dickinson was selected as the women’s recipient, and Maddox J. Corey was named as the men’s honoree this year.

We are honored to help the Graf family and the Italian-American Civic Association steward this highly cherished and storied legacy award. We look forward to seeing these three talented student athletes continue their journeys on and off the athletic field as they advance to undergraduate studies this fall.

Complete details: nnycf.org/2026-graf-award

Top photo, from left: Watertown High School seniors and 2026 William I. Graf Award recipients Marra Dickinson and Maddox J. Corey.

Bottom left photo, from left: Watertown High School Director of Health, PE, & Athletics Greg Russo; 2026 William I. Graf Award recipient and Watertown High School senior Marra Dickinson; Italian-American Civic Association President Michael Lettiere and Italian-American Civic Association Vice President Pasquale Surace.

Bottom right photo, from left: Watertown High School Director of Health, PE, & Athletics Greg Russo; 2026 William I. Graf Award recipient and Watertown High School senior Maddox J. Corey; Italian-American Civic Association President Michael Lettiere and Italian-American Civic Association Vice President Pasquale Surace.

#NNYCF #ClassOf2026 #GrafAward #WHS #IACA #ThoughtfulLegacy
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6 days ago
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Congrats to the both of them. Keep killing it Marra and Maddox

Congratulations 👏🎉

Congratulations to you both!

Do they honor IHC?

Congrats to Marra and Maddox! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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Thank you to Stewarts Shops for the generous gift. Stewart’s Washington Street store manager Megan Abbott recently invited us to her store for a grant presentation.

The gift is from the Stewart’s Holiday Match program, an annual initiative from Thanksgiving to Christmas when Stewart’s Shops matches customer donations, dollar-for-dollar, to support local children and youth nonprofit initiatives.

The program raised more than $1.8 million in 2025 to help fund nonprofit organizations, schools, and churches in their service areas. We are grateful to be a recipient of a Holiday Match grant. 

Pictured, from left: Community Foundation Philanthropy Associate Emily Pfeil; Youth Philanthropy Council member and Watertown High School junior Hudson Guldenpfennig; and Stewart’s Washington Street store manager Megan Abbott.

#NNYCF #StewartsShops #HolidayMatch #FriendsOfTheFoundation

Thank you to Stewart's Shops for the generous gift. Stewart’s Washington Street store manager Megan Abbott recently invited us to her store for a grant presentation.

The gift is from the Stewart’s Holiday Match program, an annual initiative from Thanksgiving to Christmas when Stewart’s Shops matches customer donations, dollar-for-dollar, to support local children and youth nonprofit initiatives.

The program raised more than $1.8 million in 2025 to help fund nonprofit organizations, schools, and churches in their service areas. We are grateful to be a recipient of a Holiday Match grant.

Pictured, from left: Community Foundation Philanthropy Associate Emily Pfeil; Youth Philanthropy Council member and Watertown High School junior Hudson Guldenpfennig; and Stewart’s Washington Street store manager Megan Abbott.

#NNYCF #StewartsShops #HolidayMatch #FriendsOfTheFoundation
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St. Lawrence County organizations seeking funding support from the Rock Charitable Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation: There is still time to RSVP for a grant workshop.
 
Four workshops in different St. Lawrence County communities are scheduled throughout the month of June. Those interested in attending any workshop should RSVP online at bit.ly/Rock-Workshops

The Rock Charitable Fund is accepting grant applications through Friday, September 4, 2026. Up to $150,000 in funding is available this year. Complete details, including how to apply: nnycf.org/rock-workshops-26

#NNYCF #StLawrenceCounty #ThoughtfulLegacies

St. Lawrence County organizations seeking funding support from the Rock Charitable Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation: There is still time to RSVP for a grant workshop.

Four workshops in different St. Lawrence County communities are scheduled throughout the month of June. Those interested in attending any workshop should RSVP online at bit.ly/Rock-Workshops

The Rock Charitable Fund is accepting grant applications through Friday, September 4, 2026. Up to $150,000 in funding is available this year. Complete details, including how to apply: nnycf.org/rock-workshops-26

#NNYCF #StLawrenceCounty #thoughtfullegacies
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3 weeks ago
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