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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

Northern New York Community Foundation

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

We are excited to share the Week 3 Scholarship Challenge Leaderboard!

In Jefferson County, Sackets Harbor Central took the lead with 50 percent student participation; In Lewis County, South Lewis Central held onto the lead, increasing to 25.35 percent student participation; and in St. Lawrence County, Colton-Pierrepont Central held onto the lead, still with 23.08 percent student participation.

All schools have a chance to win Community Foundation grant funding by increasing student participation in the scholarship program to at least 25 percent of the senior class. 

The first round of grants will be determined in a Facebook Live event on Monday, February 23! That means schools only have one more week to increase student participation to 25 percent or more of the senior class to be eligible for the first round of Scholarship Challenge grants. So far, only THREE schools meet the threshold for the first round of grants!

Seniors: Do you plan to continue your education in college or trade or technical school? Winter break is the perfect opportunity to complete the Community Foundation’s online common application at bit.ly/nnycf-scholarships today and help your school win!

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 3 Scholarship Challenge Leaderboard!

In Jefferson County, Sackets Harbor Central took the lead with 50 percent student participation; In Lewis County, South Lewis Central held onto the lead, increasing to 25.35 percent student participation; and in St. Lawrence County, Colton-Pierrepont Central held onto the lead, still with 23.08 percent student participation.

All schools have a chance to win Community Foundation grant funding by increasing student participation in the scholarship program to at least 25 percent of the senior class.

The first round of grants will be determined in a Facebook Live event on Monday, February 23! That means schools only have one more week to increase student participation to 25 percent or more of the senior class to be eligible for the first round of Scholarship Challenge grants. So far, only THREE schools meet the threshold for the first round of grants!

Seniors: Do you plan to continue your education in college or trade or technical school? Winter break is the perfect opportunity to complete the Community Foundation’s online common application at bit.ly/nnycf-scholarships today and help your school win!

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

#NNYCF #ScholarshipChallenge #ClassOf2026 #FundingForYourFuture
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Do you plan to continue your education in college or trade or technical school? Great continuing education options; consider

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We are pleased to announce a pair of strategic initiatives to support the longevity and capacity of tri-county nonprofits.

The Northern New York Community Foundation is launching a $250,000 matching commitment to build existing nonprofit endowment funds the Foundation stewards. Ten individual matching grants of $25,000 will be awarded to each participating organization on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Foundation is also introducing the Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative, a new grant program to help strengthen the effectiveness of local nonprofits.

Complete details below.

#NNYCF #nonprofits #partners #endowment #capacitybuilding #StrongerTogether
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Community Foundation Announces Two Efforts to Support Nonprofit Strength

www.nnycf.org

Community Foundation Announces Two Efforts to Support Nonprofit Strength February 9, 2026 By admin $250,000 Endowment Matching Challenge, New Capacity Building Grant Opportunity Offered WATERTOWN — ...
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DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY — Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence county students: There is still time to participate in the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge and help us award $10,000!

Complete your application by 11:59 p.m. Friday, February 13.

Seventh, eighth, and ninth graders, how would YOU award $10,000? Dont miss your chance to support your favorite charity!

Complete details, including how to enter: nnycf.org/challenge-deadline

#NNYCF #CommunitySpirit #YouthGivingChallenge #Leadership #Nonprofits

DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY — Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence county students: There is still time to participate in the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge and help us award $10,000!

Complete your application by 11:59 p.m. Friday, February 13.

Seventh, eighth, and ninth graders, how would YOU award $10,000? Don't miss your chance to support your favorite charity!

Complete details, including how to enter: nnycf.org/challenge-deadl#NNYCFN#CommunitySpiritp#YouthGivingChallengel#leadershipr#nonprofitsofits
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