Community Action Planning Council is stocking the food pantry shelves with assorted vegetables, fruits, pasta and protein, thanks to a generous donation from the Northern New York Community Foundation. Earlier this year, the Community Foundation announced its continued commitment to local pantries with a gift of $30,000 to be distributed to 37 food pantries in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties.
The pantry at Community Action Planning Council is a vital source of support for low-income families, serving an average of 350 households each month. Children make up one-third of all individuals served through the pantry. “During the previous 12 months, the pantry provided food packages equivalent to more than 168,000 meals – a need we would not have been able to meet without the generosity of the local community,” said Dawn Cole, deputy director for Community Action Planning Council. “We are very grateful for all those who support the Community Foundation for helping to make this meaningful gift possible.”
The pantry at Community Action Planning Council receives financial support from a variety of sources, including the Food Bank of Central NY, the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), and the Northern New York Community Foundation, as well as donations and food drives coordinated by area businesses and individuals.
Visitors to the food pantry are provided with a five-day supply of food (three meals per day) for each member of the household. Food packages contain a variety of food items in keeping with nutrition guidelines from the Food Bank of Central New York. For more information about the Food Pantry or other Community Action services, please contact 315.782.4900, extension 271.