The Utica National Group Foundation has awarded $250,000 to more than 30 local food pantries and soup kitchens to help them better serve communities in Herkimer and Oneida counties. UTICA, N.Y. – The Utica National Group Foundation has awarded $250,000 to more than 30 local food pantries and soup kitchens to help them better serve communities in Herkimer and Oneida counties. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the Utica National foundation has worked with The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties to distribute $325,000 to several organizations through the Food Security Project. As recovery from the pandemic continues, the Foundation’s Screening Committee decided to continue to focus its efforts on providing food to local residents in need.
“Our foundation is focused on the continuing need for food security in our local community as people and families try to recover from a devastating pandemic. We’re honored to be able to provide meals for those who need them and to continue to help these local businesses succeed as they reopen and recover,” said Bernard Turi, chair of the Foundation’s Screening Committee and Utica National’s executive vice president. “Helping our nonprofits make meals available is our heartfelt way to say, ‘thank you,’ for all that they do every day to help others.”
Community Foundation CEO Alicia Dicks says in addition to the community, this funding helps support nonprofits as well as local restaurants.
“This award from the Utica National Group Foundation Fund means so much to so many. It’s unique because its impact is three-pronged—benefitting residents who need food, while also supporting the nonprofits that distribute the food, as well as local restaurants that are preparing the meals,” said Dicks.
Below are the groups receiving funding:
- Angels Among Us Food Pantry
- Bread of Life Community Center
- Camden Area Food Pantry
- Church of the Holy Family Pantry
- Dolgeville Area Food Pantry
- Feed Our Vets Food Pantry
- Foothills Rural Community Ministry
- Frankfort Ilion Food Pantry
- Helping Hands Food Pantry
- Hope House
- Johnson Park Center
- Kuyahoora Valley Food Pantry
- Little Falls Community Outreach
- Mohawk Valley Food Pantry
- Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen
- Rescue Mission of Utica
- Rome Rescue Mission
- Salvation Army – Herkimer
- Salvation Army – Rome
- Salvation Army – Utica
- Seeds of Hope Food Pantry
- St. Bartholomew’s Food Pantry
- St. John’s Outreach Food Pantry
- St. Joseph’s Church Pantry
- The Country Pantry
- Thea Bowman House
- Town of Verona Food Pantry
- Utica Food Pantry
- Van Hornesville Food Pantry
- Waterville Area Food Pantry
