Real stories of real change
From impactful volunteer events to inspiring stories of advocacy and change, see what’s new with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. You can also stay up to date on all the latest stories by subscribing to our Harvester Newsletter.
Lester navigated the busy streets as a cab driver for 24 years before retiring to a rural area of the Southern Tier, between the towns of Bath and Cameron. He enjoys gardening and growing vegetables like cucumbers, corn, and tomatoes in his raised garden beds. But, as a senior living on his own, things aren’t [...]
The line to get a turkey meal from the Addison Area Food Pantry wrapped all the way down the block and around the corner, but this isn’t usual. Jaime Potts, the pantry’s Program Coordinator, said their 2025 Turkey Giveaway was the busiest they’d ever been. “That was the most people we’ve ever had at once. [...]
As the federal government shutdown continues, thousands of families across the Southern Tier are facing uncertainty about how they’ll access food in the coming weeks. Nearly 5,000 federal employees are currently without paychecks, and more than 67,000 individuals will lose access to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits beginning November 1. While the Food Bank [...]
Enfield Elementary’s School Food Center delivers fresh, nutritious food to children and families who need it most. Your kindness and commitment not only ensures no child in Enfield goes hungry, but it led to a new partnership between the center and Earlybird Nursery in Ithaca. With the help of County Legislator Randy Brown, Cornell Cooperative [...]
A huge thank you to all the incredible businesses who joined us for this year’s Leader of the Pack competition — proudly sponsored by Wegmans! This high-energy event brought together teams from across the region, all stepping up to help fight childhood hunger in the Southern Tier. Whether racing the clock or showing off their [...]
On Thursday, October 2, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier hosted our annual Harvest Celebration, a special evening dedicated to honoring our more than 300 partner agencies for the life-changing work they do every day to nourish and strengthen our communities. Each year, the Harvest Celebration brings together food pantries, meal programs, Mobile Food [...]
You help people with firsthand experience of food insecurity find their voices and lead change in their communities through the Food Bank’s Community Advocates Program, called CAP. Since its start in 2016, the program has grown to empower Southern Tier residents to advocate for themselves and others and debunk myths about food insecurity. Having these [...]
Christina grew up knowing how to stretch a dollar, and how it felt to go without. Christina brushed her teeth with bottled water her senior year of high school because her family didn’t have running water. Her mom made spaghetti stretch with just a few pieces of chicken for Christina and her three brothers, not [...]
On Tuesday, August 12, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic. The room was filled with laughter, stories, and the familiar faces of those who give so much of their time and energy to make a difference in our community. Over the past year, the volunteer program has continued [...]
Meet Nordia, a Community Service Director for her church. When the Covid-19 pandemic started, her church became one of the key points of distribution for delivery of Community Food Boxes. After a year of deliveries, she was encouraged by the church community to open a food pantry at the church. To support the development of [...]
