To the Editor:

September is National Hunger Action Month, and we at Church & Community Program want to thank the Northern New York Community Foundation for their support of our food pantry.

This year, we received a $1,400 grant to be used at the Food Bank of Central New York. In June and July, we were able to purchase 2,221 pounds of healthy, low-cost food to serve the steadily growing number of families who rely upon us for groceries. Using the grant award, our CCP pantry provided groceries respectively, for 198 and 195 households. That’s more than 540 adults, children and seniors.

This food was part of our stock for our twice-monthly senior deliveries, our twice-weekly regular distributions, and the flow of walk-ins, new sign-ups, and emergency distributions. The food not only came when we were very low on inventory, and before the regular FBCNY budget season began, it was also before local, fresh vegetables were available.

Our pantry clients are young couples, single parents, retirees, grandparents raising young kids, single people, people with disabilities, people just home from jail, and homeless people. They're looking for food for their families and themselves, and they are grateful to get it. With help from all our donors and partners, we’re able to provide it.

Thank you, Northern New York Community Foundation.

Connie Jenkins, Director,
Church & Community Foundation, Canton