Last update: December 28, 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 City of Fulton, Granby, Volney, Schroeppel, and Phoenix.
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 Fulton Alliance Church is a mobile distribution site for food boxes from the Food Bank of CNY. Distributions are always scheduled for the first Wednesday of the month; the next distribution is set for November 5th at 2:30pm. Cars begin lining up an hour or more ahead of distribution time.
Believers Chapel in Fulton distributes fresh foods from the Food Bank of CNY. The schedule is typically the third Monday of each month, starting at 2:30pm. Their next distribution is scheduled for Monday, November 17th and, like all Food Bank of CNY distributions, there are no income requirements. For questions, call the church at 315-593-8989.
The Fulton Church of the Nazarene has a newly expanded food pantry and clothing closet that is open to any Oswego County residents from 10am to noon on the fourth Saturday of the month. For more details, reach out to Theresa Durgan at durgantheresa5@gmail.com.
The Fulton First United Methodist Church provides a 3-day emergency supply of food for those in need. The pantry typically supports anywhere between one dozen and two dozen families per month. For information about eligibility and to confirm operating hours for the week, contact the church at 315-592-7347 or office@fultonfirst.org.
Residents of Fulton, Granby, Hannibal, and Minetto may receive food from the Dexterville 7th Day Adventist Food Pantry, located on Rathburn Road. The pantry is open on Mondays from 6pm to 8pm. For further information, contact John Livergood at jhlivergood@yahoo.com.
The Fulton Public Library maintains a small Comfort Cabinet for public consumption. The cabinet typically has non-perishable food items, toiletries, gently used shoes, and feminine hygiene products. The library is always welcoming donations to the cabinet.
The First Congregational Church of Phoenix operates a food pantry that is open Monday through Friday from 9:30am until 12pm. Note that proof of residency and income are required to participate.
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
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 at the Fulton First United Methodist Church (across from the Fulton Jr. High School).
Hot Meals
Salvation Army of Fulton operates a daily soup kitchen from 11:30am to 12:30pm. The soup kitchen is located at 62. S. First Street and is separate from the thrift shop. The meal is offered to-go only and is available to anyone who is an Oswego County resident.
Believers Chapel of Fulton operates a small weekly soup kitchen, Garden of Eat’n, from noon until 1:30pm every Sunday.
On the third Wednesday of every month at 6pm, the Fulton Reformed Presbyterian Church hosts a free hot meal. A religious devotional is part of the event.
On the last Wednesday of every month from 5-6pm, Holy Trinity Church in Fulton cooks a free hot meal for the community. The church is located at 309 Buffalo Street.
Lasagna Love is entirely volunteer-funded and operated and offers a meal (typically, but not exclusively, lasagna) to be picked up or delivered to your home. Note that this program may not be suitable for folks with serious allergies or food sensitivities, and the wait times for meal deliveries vary based on how many requests have been received. The average wait time is approximately four weeks. If you would like to learn more about this organization and how to get involved, iHeart Oswego recently profiled this incredible organization.
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.
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 Fulton “Riverside Retreat” operates Monday through Friday, with bussing available on Monday and Friday. In Phoenix, activities are hosted by the Congregational Church on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with bussing options on Wednesday and Friday. 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. Each of these were recently awarded funding from Erin’s Angels of CNY. In Fulton, this effort is known as Blessings in a Backpack. These programs aim to 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.
For residents in Phoenix, Pennellville, and Schroeppel, Erin’s Angels keeps a dedicated and comprehensive list of area food pantries and resources.
A final reminder
Food insecurity is a major problem in our county. An estimated 1 in 4 Oswego County adults struggle with food insecurity. This problem does not have to be insurmountable; we can tackle it together if we unite as a community, leaving judgement and fear behind. If we have missed any resources in or around Fulton and Phoenix or that are located just over the county line, 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.
