Community Comes Together to Collect More Than 23,000 Items for Local Food Pantries

Summer can be one of the most challenging times of the year for families experiencing food insecurity. When school lets out, thousands of children lose access to the breakfasts and lunches they rely on during the school year, placing added strain on already-stretched household budgets.

Recognizing the growing need across our region, United Way of Northern New York expanded its Community Food Drive this year by adding a new collection event in St. Lawrence County. Together with our long-standing Watertown drive, the two events collected more than 23,000 food and personal care items to help stock the shelves of 50 local food pantries serving Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties.

The first collection event took place on June 3 at Walmart in Watertown, where community members donated more than 16,000 items to support pantries serving Jefferson and Lewis Counties. Building on that success, United Way hosted its first-ever St. Lawrence County Community Food Drive on June 17 at Walmart in Potsdam, collecting an additional 7,200 items for pantries throughout St. Lawrence County.

While the numbers are impressive, they tell only part of the story.

Every can of soup, box of cereal, package of diapers, tube of toothpaste, and jar of peanut butter represents a neighbor who chose to help another neighbor. Every volunteer who greeted donors, sorted donations, or loaded food onto trucks helped ensure local families have access to the essentials they need during one of the most challenging times of the year.

Events like these are only possible because our community believes that no one should have to face hunger alone.

To everyone who donated, volunteered, partnered, or helped spread the word, thank you. Your generosity is helping ensure that children, families, and seniors across Northern New York have access to nutritious food and essential personal care items when they need them most. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier community, one act of kindness at a time.