How the Helpful Harvest Grant Round Strengthens Food Security Across the Mohawk Valley

Every fall, as the season of giving approaches, the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties connects a network of donors, fundholders and nonprofit partners to tackle one of the community’s most pressing issues: food insecurity.

Through its annual Helpful Harvest Grant Round, powered by the Helpful Harvest Fund, the Community Foundation helps ensure that local food pantries, soup kitchens and community organizations have the resources they need to serve families during the holidays and beyond.

The Helpful Harvest Fund was established in 2022 to combat the clear rise in resident need. Community Foundation partners and donors have shown great interest by donating to the fund or recommending a grant directly to organizations.

Meeting the need when it matters most

Over time, the Helpful Harvest Grant Round has evolved into one of the Community Foundation’s largest grant rounds. Initially launched in November, the process gradually shifted earlier each year to give grantees more time to purchase and distribute food before the holiday rush.

“This year, we held the grant round in September to give organizations enough time to facilitate the acquisition of food and other items so that they can distribute them in an effective way,” said Joseph Wicks, community investment strategic manager at the Community Foundation. 

The grant round supports a wide range of needs — from stocking shelves to securing essential equipment such as refrigeration, shelving and storage. 
Fueled by community support

The Helpful Harvest Fund draws strength from the generosity of donors, Foundation fundholders and community giving days like Mohawk Valley Gives. Dollars that have been donated to the Helpful Harvest Fund have helped the initiative’s impact to grow year over year.

In 2025, more than $106,000 was awarded to 44 organizations. The previous year, over $100,000 was awarded to 36 organizations, with an additional $30,000 contributed directly by donor-advised funds in support of 16 organizations. That’s a tremendous leap from 2022, when $38,000 was granted to 33 organizations. 

Making connections and building efficiency

The Community Foundation’s approach is as much about collaboration as it is about funding the needs of local nonprofits. From large regional food banks to smaller church-based pantries, the network of local partners is vast and interconnected. 
Nonprofits are not working in isolation.

They lean on one another and share resources, exchange best practices and coordinate distribution efforts to ensure that no community is overlooked. By building a shared support system, organizations can respond more quickly and effectively to community needs and fill gaps in service.

“It really takes a village,” Wicks said. 

How to get involved

The Helpful Harvest Fund is open for donations year-round. Every contribution — large or small — directly supports local organizations working on the front lines of food security.
To donate, visit www.foundationhoc.org/helpfulharvest. Together, we can keep shelves stocked, tables full and the spirit of giving alive across the Mohawk Valley. 

Article originally published in the Daily Sentinel on October 28, 2025.