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When people think about addressing hunger, they often think of food pantries and food banks. While those resources are essential, one of the most powerful anti-hunger tools available is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP. SNAP helps eligible individuals and families purchase food each month, providing a reliable source of support that [...]

When our community comes together, incredible things happen! Local businesses joined the Food Bank of the Southern Tier for our 2026 Leader of the Pack event, bringing teamwork, energy, and a shared commitment to helping children across the Southern Tier access nutritious food. Together, participating teams packed an impressive 4,800 BackPack bags, helping support children [...]

During harvest season, every day looks a little different for Jason Yarrington and his team. As the Director of Warehouse Operations at the Food Bank, Jason said it’s common to get between 400 and 900 pounds of produce in a single delivery from a local farm – especially during harvest season, the warehouse’s busiest time [...]

Over the last four summers, Donna Mistler has seen children get excited about something you may not expect: eating their fruits and vegetables.  That excitement comes from a program called Kids’ Farmers Markets – where any child under the age of 18 can try a variety of fresh produce from local farmers and bring home [...]

More than 100 Corning Incorporated employees came together for the annual Corning Leader of the Pack BackPack Challenge, racing to pack 4,800 backpacks filled with nutritious food for children experiencing food insecurity across the Southern Tier. This year, the event also marked the culmination of Glass & Giving: 175 Years & $175K, which began with [...]

For local farmers like KC Mandeville, summer is busier than ever. “We’re a family farm. It’s just my wife, myself, and my son,” KC said.  From May to October, farms across NYS aren’t just harvesting their produce. They’re also looking for reliable wholesale buyers and the right consumer market. That can be a tough part [...]

The call came in on an October morning. Dollar General in Chemung had a large donation ready for pickup. When the In His Presence Pantry team arrived, they were stunned. 800 pounds of fresh milk filled the coolers. Gallons that would have gone to waste were now headed straight to family refrigerators across the community. [...]

Advocacy is a lot like a muscle: It gets stronger the more you use it.  That’s how Sayre Paradiso recently described her approach to food justice and social equity. As a Tompkins County resident and Community Advocate, Sayre is actively involved in several food access initiatives – from running a local pantry to participating in [...]

Tioughnioga Riverside Academy (TRA) is a middle school located in Whitney Point, on the banks of the scenic Tioughnioga River – a 34.2-mile-long tributary that flows through several counties. Another major tributary, the Otselic River, also enters the Tioughnioga River nearby.  Like many rural communities in the Southern Tier, TRA students are just as accustomed [...]

Tracey Hayes isn’t much of a hugger. But she can count on plenty of them every Friday.  “I bet I have 10 people hug me every time,” she said.  At Thomas A. Edison High School, Friday isn’t just about getting to the weekend. It’s the day that students and their families visit the School Food [...]