Helpful Harvest Fund Awards Over $100,000 to Human Service Organizations in Preparation for the Holiday Season

Through the Helpful Harvest Grant Round, supported by the Helpful Harvest Fund, the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties awarded $100,000 to 36 human service organizations including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and others to help alleviate food insecurity and support increased need around the holiday season and colder months.
 
This year’s recipients received grants ranging from $2,500 to $3,800:

• Bill Gavin Food Pantry
• Camden Area Food Pantry
• Catholic Charities of Oneida & Madison Counties
• Center for Family Life and Recovery
• College Community Connection (C3)
• Connected Community Schools
• Country Pantry
• First Presbyterian Church of Ilion
• Foothills Rural Community Ministry
• Holy Family Food Pantry
• Hope House
• Johnson Park Center
• Karing Kitchen
• Little Falls Food Pantry
• Mother Marianne's West Side Kitchen
• New Life Assembly of God Food Pantry
• Niccolls Memorial Presbyterian Church
• Old Forge Library
• Oneida County Food Coalition
• Redeeming Love Fellowship
• Rescue Mission of Utica
• Rome Rescue Mission
• Salvation Army of Herkimer
• Salvation Army of Rome
• Salvation Army of Utica
• Seeds of Hope Food Pantry
• St. Margaret's Food Pantry
• St. John's Outreach Food Pantry
• St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
• St. Patrick's & St. Mary's Food Pantry
• Thea Bowman House
• Town of Verona Food Pantry
• Utica Center for Development
• Waterville Area Food Pantry
• Westminster Moriah Olivet Pantry
• YWCA of the Mohawk Valley

An additional $30,000 was granted directly from donor funds at the Community Foundation in support of 16 human service organizations.
 
“Many families face extra financial burdens during the winter months. This is especially true for low-income families trying to balance rent, high heating costs, buying warm clothes, paying school-related expenses and trying to make the holidays special,” said Sister Paula Mayer, director of St. John's Outreach Food Pantry. “We’ve seen an increase in demand with more families seeking food assistance in November, and this is likely to continue through the winter months. The Community Foundation’s Helpful Harvest grant is making it possible for us to help reduce food insecurity in our neighborhoods.”
 
The Helpful Harvest Fund was established in 2022 to combat the clear rise in resident needs throughout the community, particularly during the holiday season. Community Foundation partners and donors have shown great interest by donating to the fund or recommending a grant directly to eligible organizations as part of their year-end giving. Donations to the fund are accepted year-round in preparation for the next holiday season. To learn more about the fund and to donate, visit foundationhoc.org/helpfulharvestfund.