This article originally ran as a “Spotlight” feature in North Country This Week.

POTSDAM -- The Potsdam Neighborhood Center is an outreach program of the St. Lawrence County Community Development Program (CDP), providing food, clothing, housing assistance and many other services to families in need.

CDP’s mission is to encourage and assist low-income individuals and families to obtain self-reliance, dignity, and self-sufficiency through education, guidance, and services. CDP has been effectively serving all communities of St. Lawrence County since 1966.

CDP was incorporated in 1965 as a not-for-profit community action agency and operates six Neighborhood Centers in Potsdam, Canton, Ogdensburg, Massena, Gouverneur and Colton/Parishville/Pierrepont. All centers offer a variety of services, some standard and some unique to each center.

With the end of the pandemic, some government stimulus support has ended, including supplemental SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps.

 This has led to a significant increase recently in the utilization of our Neighborhood Centers.

Between October 2021 and September 2022, the Potsdam Neighborhood Center food pantry distributed nearly 62,000 pounds of food, thanks to Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding.

Since October 2022, the Potsdam Neighborhood Center has distributed 55,000 pounds of food to 1,036 families or individuals in need.

Centers also receive generous grants through the United Way Emergency Food & Shelter Program and Stewart’s Holiday Match Program.

Generous donations have also been received from various organizations, businesses, cMany different forms of donations are gladly accepted. Examples include, but are not limited to, monetary donations, food, gently used clothing and shoes, housewares, pet food/products, personal hygiene items, baby items, games and toys, school supplies, small appliances, books, backpacks/purses, and services such as logo, brochure, and business card design.

Still, monetary donations from the community have drastically decreased in recent years.

The combination of events has put some Neighborhood Centers at risk of not being able to provide adequate services to their communities.

CSBG funds pay for Neighborhood Center directors’ salaries.

Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance (HPNAP) grants are earmarked for Neighborhood Centers and are administered by Food Bank CNY specifically for food purchases from them.

Kristal Hayes has served as Potsdam Neighborhood Center Director for seven years and as Canton Neighborhood Center Director for one year prior to that.

It takes unique individuals to work in Community Action and Kristal’s dedication and compassion are assets to the work she does. The Potsdam Center serves well over 100 households every month just for food assistance.

Kristal has obtained her Family Development Credential and is a “Getting Ahead Facilitator” through Bridges Out of Poverty. Kristal facilitates all Food Sense orders for all Neighborhood Centers as well as several other organizations that participate.

Stop in and meet Kristal at the Potsdam Neighborhood Center at 2 Park St., in the basement below the Potsdam Public Library. For questions about the Neighborhood Center, call 315-265-3920.

Potsdam Neighborhood Center services include:

• Food Pantry  

• Thrift Store      

• VITA Program

• Utility & Rental Assistance  when funding is available  

• Bus Tokens      

• Faxing Services

• Food Sense      

• Budgeting

• Employment Assistance;  job search, application process, finger printing, work readiness  

• Nutrition Education       

• Goal Setting

• HEAP/SNAP applications  

• Public Housing applications

• Farmers Market Tours      

• Personal Care Supplies    

• Pet Supplies  

•  Head Start referrals     

• Weatherization referrals    

• Emergency Housing  

• Summer Food Programs   

• School Supplies      

• Thanksgiving Program  

• Christmas Program            

• DSS Workfare Opportunity  

• Volunteer Opportunity  

• Care & Share Program      

• Easter Basket Giveaway  

• Mobile Delivery (if eligible)   

• A4TD Opportunity

Donations from the community have drastically decreased in recent years. Combined with government funding cuts, this has put some Neighborhood Centers at risk of not being able to continue providing adequate services.

Please donate today!

• Send a check made out to:

   Potsdam Neighborhood Center,

   2 Park St., Potsdam, NY 13676

•  Send a check made out to:

  St. Lawrence County CDP

1 Commerce Lane, Canton, NY 13617

• Donate through the

  St. Lawrence County CDP PayPal

  account at https://slccdp.org/about/

• Contact your local Neighborhood

  Center for donations such as food,

  housewares, and clothing.