With the government shutdown and SNAP benefits possibly running out on Saturday, November 1st, our team decided to scour the county for every resource possible to support food security.
We’ll begin this 5-part series by focusing on the northern part of the county, including all points from Amboy, Richland, and Albion, to the northern county line.
We encourage all readers who can afford it to make a donation to their local food pantry or offer a meal to a neighbor in need. Another low-effort way to support the community is to add a few kid-friendly shelf-stable goods to give out on top of Halloween candy, such as cans of soup or protein bars. Our community is going to need all of the support it can get.
Food Pantries
Redfield Food Pantry, which is located in the old Redfield school, serves anyone who is closer to their pantry than another pantry. The pantry requires certification that residents meet food bank income requirements. The pantry is open every Tuesday either 12-2 or 5-7, alternating every week. The first week of November, the hours are 12-2.
In Altmar, the Pine Meadows Wesleyan Church offers a food pantry open to residents of the APW school district, as well as Orwell. The pantry asks people to bring their own bins, boxes, or bags to carry items home. Their next hours of operation are scheduled for Saturday, November 15 from 9am to 11am. You can contact the church with questions by calling 315-298-5348 or emailing David Starkey at Starkeydvd@aol.com.
The Pulaski Community Cupboard is open Mondays 9am-12pm and 3pm-6pm, as well as Fridays 9am-4pm. The pantry supports residents in the Pulaski School District and goes by standard food bank income guidelines. Additionally, participants must show proof of everyone in the household (mail, birth certificates, etc.) to receive food for them.
Park United Methodist Church in Pulaski works with the Food Bank of CNY to distribute foods, produce, dairy, and breads are distributed on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Anyone can receive the free food; there are no eligibility requirements. The doors open at 1:30 PM. Volunteers to help with distribution are always welcome. They also have a limited Crisis Care program for those who have exhausted other eligible options for food; for more details about this program, contact the church at 315-298-5454 or secretary@pulaskiumc.org.
Sandy Creek/Lacona Community Cupboard operates from 9am to 3:30pm and is open to residents of the Sandy Creek School District. Residents of other districts may be eligible for a one-time emergency basis. More details are available on their website and on 211 CNY.
Sandy Creek United Methodist Church has a food pantry that is open weekdays (there are no residency requirements). The church also hosts a free food distribution every 1st Monday of the month. Their next distribution is scheduled for November 3rd at 3:00 pm; it is a drive-through distribution with no residency requirements. Vehicles line up along Harwood Drive heading east in front of the church.
In Amboy, the Amboy Center Community Church hosts a food pantry that operates on the second and fourth Fridays every month, with pick-up times between 9am and 11am. Their income guidelines are available on the Town of Amboy website here. Participants can come inside the pantry and pick out their own items or have pre-bagged items brought out to their vehicle. The amount of food provided is based on your household size.
The Parish Ecumenical Food Pantry is open to residents of the APW school district on Tuesdays from 2pm to 5pm. For more details about the program, call 315-625-4304. The pantry is operated by the New Hope Presbyterian Church, located at 814 Rider Street, Parish.
The Rural & Migrant Ministry of Oswego County is a non-denominational organization based in Richland that operates a medical clinic; it also operates a very small food pantry that primarily takes referrals from other food pantries and offers support when clinic patients are in need.
Catholic Charities of Oswego County is open to all county residents. While it is located in Fulton, they will provide emergency food for 5 days for every person in the household, as well as offering a free bag of food at Christmas. For Thanksgiving, the non-profit is offering free additional items for food pantry participants in lieu of a holiday basket. More details are available on the CCOC website.
Food $en$e Program (by the Food Bank of CNY)
While not free, this grocery program provides heavily discounted meat, produce, and pantry staples monthly at locations throughout the county. You can browse the current offerings on the Food Bank of CNY’s website. There are seven pick-up locations in Oswego County, including in Pulaski.
Hot Meals
St. James Episcopal Church of Pulaski provides a free hot meal every month, typically on the last Thursday of the month from 4pm to 6pm. There are no strings attached; all are welcome.
Meals on Wheels is operated by Oswego County Opportunities throughout the county. People under the age of 60 who would like to receive Meals on Wheels should contact OCO’s Nutrition Services at 315-598-4712. More information is available at oco.org.
Lasagna Love is entirely volunteer-funded and operated. Note that this program may not be suitable for folks with serious allergies or food sensitivities, and the wait times for meal deliveries varies based on how many requests have been received. The average wait time is approximately four week. If you would like to learn more about this organization and how to get involved, iHeart Oswego recently profiled this incredible organization.
Resources for Seniors
Meals on Wheels is operated by Oswego County Opportunities throughout the county. For adults 60 and over interested in participating, contact the county’s Office for the Aging at 315-349-3484.
OCO also operates dining and activity centers with hot lunches and activities for seniors. The northern-most of these locations is in Pulaski at “The Landing”; it operates on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday. You can contact the center directly by calling 315-532-8512. The full list of locations is available at oco.org.
Resources for Children
While we would normally recommend families with young children look into WIC (315-343-1311), the program is expected to experience interruptions similar to SNAP if the government shutdown continues.
For school-aged children, there are backpack programs in every school district in the county aimed at sending enough food home for students on the weekends. Each of these were recently awarded funding from Erin’s Angels of CNY. Reach out to your child’s school for more information.
OCO operates after-school and summer meals programs with locations throughout the county to feed children aged 18 and under. For the most up-to-date list of locations, contact OCO at 315-598-4712.
Although not food, diapers add a lot of financial stress to families at the grocery store. The Oswego County Diaper Bank offers up to 50 diapers per month, per child to Oswego County families in need with children 5 and under. The diaper bank is coordinated by Integrated Community Planning of Oswego County. Families can request diapers by calling 315-343-2344. That number goes to a switchboard: dial #6 for the Early Childhood Alliance and then press #1 to speak with a person about your child’s diaper needs.
Resources for Pets
The Oswego County Humane Society operates a small food pantry for pets. Oswego County residents who have proof of low-income status and spay/neuter records for each pet are eligible. For more details, visit the Humane Society’s website or call their office at 315-207-1070.
A final reminder
Food insecurity is a major problem in our county; in 2023, Oswego County ranked number 8 in the state for the largest percentage of hungry children, with over 1 in 5 kids facing food insecurity at home. This is a problem we can solve if we are all willing to come together as a community, without judgment or fear. If we have missed any resources in the northern part of the county or there are options for Oswego County residents located just over the county line to the north or east, feel free to add them in the comments. And if you see someone struggling, don’t be afraid to break the silence and offer them a helping hand.
