We are once again calling on local schools, businesses, and community organizations to participate in the annual Community Food Drive, running now through early June across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties!
This initiative aims to collect non-perishable food and personal care items to support 24 food pantries across the tri-county area. The drive will culminate in a community-wide event on Wednesday, June 4, from 8 AM to 2 PM at the Watertown Walmart parking lot on State Route 3, where donations will be sorted and distributed that afternoon. Community members are encouraged to bring contributions to local donation drop-off sites throughout May or directly to the event on June 4th. If you’re unable to host a collection or volunteer the day of the event but would still like to help combat food insecurity in our communities, please consider making a gift here: https://givebutter.com/2025CFD
Tunes 92.5 will be broadcasting live from the site, adding to the day’s excitement, and donations of nutritious, kid-friendly, non-perishable foods are especially appreciated. The timing of this drive aligns with the summer break from school, when under-resourced parents and caregivers face additional challenges in meeting the nutritional needs of growing children. By supporting this initiative, the community can help bridge the gap for children and families in need during this critical period.
Those who have experienced hunger firsthand understand how debilitating it can be, particularly for children. Adequate nutrition is crucial for their ability to learn, grow, and thrive.
Organizations interested in becoming donation drop-off sites can contact Community Engagement Coordinator April Bennett at (315) 755-1414 or by email at april.bennett@unitedway-nny.org to receive a Food Drive Toolkit. The toolkit includes a collection box, promotional materials, a goal thermometer, and tips for a successful drive.
The need is urgent: According to Feeding America, hunger can affect people from all walks of life. Millions of people in America are just one job loss, a missed paycheck, or a medical emergency away from hunger. But hunger doesn’t affect everyone the same—some groups like children, communities of color, rural communities, women, and people with disabilities face hunger at much higher rates.
More than 47 million people in the US face hunger, including 1 in 5 children here in the North Country. For more information or to get involved as a donation drop-off site, individual donor, or event volunteer, visit https://unitedway-nny.org/community-food-drive.
United, we can combat local food insecurity!
