CANTON -- GardenShare will recognize retired executive director Gloria J. McAdam with the 2018 Growing Community Award for her contributions to the anti-hunger movement over a lifetime of service.

During her time with Foodshare, the organization vastly increased the amount of food it distributes to food pantries, soup kitchens, and other programs that serve food directly to the hungry. After 30 years, Gloria returned to the North Country, bringing her experience and passion to a small, grassroots organization.

Her homecoming was a boon for GardenShare, as Board President Carol Pynchon notes. “Gloria brought such broad experience and wonderful energy to GardenShare, she helped us fine-tune our mission and sharpen our focus. We are a stronger, more mission-driven organization thanks to Gloria.”

“We have made great strides in reaching low-income and working families with resources to help them acquire locally grown food,” McAdam said. We worked hard to develop new ideas and projects to strengthen our local food system, support area farmers, and ensure that people of all means are able to access healthy, locally grown food. But we have just scratched the surface. There's a lot of work left to do to solve the problems of hunger in St Lawrence County."

GardenShare’s award will be presented in partnership with SUNY Potsdam’s WISER Center at the Growing Community Social on Thursday, November 1, in Thatcher Hall on the SUNY Potsdam campus.

Guests are invited to arrive at 4:30 p.m. for a cash bar and tours of the WISER Center or at 6:30 for a light local meal and program. The event is free but reservations are required; RSVP on GardenShare’s website or Facebook page or by calling 315-261-8054.

GardenShare is a locally led nonprofit working to end hunger and strengthen food security across the region. To learn more about GardenShare and the Growing Community Award’s past recipients, visit www.gardenshare.org.