Last Update: November 6, 2025
With the government shutdown and SNAP benefits possibly running out on November 1st, our team decided to scour the county for every resource possible to support food security.
We began this series with the northernmost part of the county, going as far south as Amboy. For this installment, we will focus on the central part of the county: the towns of New Haven, Palermo, Mexico, and Parish.
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 and Distribution Sites
The Mexico Food Pantry offers support to residents of the Mexico School District. According to their website, participants must fill out a menu (available at the pantry) and return it to the tub outside the front door. Menus must be submitted at least a day before you plan to pick up food. Volunteers fill food orders Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Then, the pantry will contact you to set up a pick-up time for your order. You can contact the pantry directly at 315-963-2235.
Mexico Presbyterian Church provides a food pantry open to Oswego County residents for pickup once monthly. For more details, contact Pastor Karen Green at 315-963-7902 or firstpresbymex@gmail.com.
The Mexico First United Methodist Church (FUMC) and Lycoming FUMC both have a blessings box outside of the church which is regularly maintained and available 24 hours a day. The items are first come, first serve.
Mobile food distributions supported by the Food Bank of Central New York are hosted at the Palermo United Methodist Church at 11 County Route 35 each month. Their next scheduled distribution is at 3pm on Wednesday, November 19.
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.
In Altmar, the Pine Meadows Wesleyan Church offers a food pantry open to residents of the APW school district, including Parish. 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.
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 planning to provide free additional items for food pantry participants in lieu of a holiday basket. More details are available on the CCOC website.
Discount Grocery Programs
Mexico Food Co-Op, which operates out of Believers Chapel North on Route 3, is run primarily by email. Orders are placed every four weeks, and deliveries come in on Wednesday mornings. The next delivery date is November 5. Note that there is a $15 yearly membership fee for bags and labels used by the co-op on top of the cost of the grocery order. For more information, contact Mary at 315-598-7303 (phone calls only, no text messages) or mchase7303@aol.com.
The Food $en$e program operated by the Food Bank of CNY 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 one in Mexico.
Hot Meals
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. To volunteer to make a meal, visit their website. 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
The APW High School student government is once again planning their annual Thanksgiving dinner for senior citizens. The meal is slotted for Thursday, November 20 at 5pm, in the Junior-Senior high school dining room. For more details, read our recent coverage of the event. Reservations can be made starting Monday, November 3 by calling the school at 315-625-5220.
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. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, the activities are hosted by the New Hope Church in Parish; bussing is available on Thursdays. On Wednesdays and Fridays, they are hosted by the Lighthouse Church of God in Mexico; a bus is available on Wednesdays. The full list of locations, including phone numbers, 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. Each of these were recently awarded funding from Erin’s Angels of CNY. These programs provide food on the weekends for school-aged children. 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.
Miscellaneous Resources
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 support. For more details, visit the Humane Society’s website or call their office at 315-207-1070.
Although not food, diapers add significant 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 family’s diaper needs.
A final reminder
Food insecurity is a serious problem in our county. An estimated 1 in 4 Oswego County adults struggle with food insecurity. We can solve this problem together without judgment or fear, if we unite as a community. If we have missed any resources in Mexico, Parish, New Haven, or Palermo, 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.
