Oswego County Food Security Alliance Awards Initial Grants to Strengthen Local Hunger Relief Efforts

OSWEGO COUNTY — The Oswego County Food Security Alliance—an initiative led by the Richard S. Shineman Foundation—is pleased to announce its first round of grant awards supporting community-based efforts to reduce hunger and strengthen food access across Oswego County. These initial investments reflect the Alliance’s commitment to practical, dignified, and collaborative solutions that meet people where they are.

The following grant awards were made:

• Blessings in a Backpack – Fulton Chapter received $5,000 to support its Backpack Program, which provides shelf-stable food items to students for weekends—helping ensure children have access to nutritious food when school meals are unavailable.
• The Salvation Army of Oswego County received $9,000 to improve the Soup Kitchen dining area by purchasing new chairs and tables. The Alliance believes that everyone deserves dignity and care, and that a welcoming, functional dining space is an essential part of providing nourishment and community support.

In addition to these direct grant awards, the Alliance is partnering with the Food Bank of Central New York to blend resources in support freezer replacement efforts at two key community sites:

• Redfield Grace Fellowship Church
• Fulton Church of the Nazarene

Freezer replacement and storage improvements are critical to maintaining safe, reliable food distribution—especially in rural and high-need areas where access to food resources can be limited.

The Oswego County Food Security Alliance is also expanding its support to meet emerging needs in public spaces. The Alliance is providing shelf-stable food items to the local library, where staff have reported a growing number of unhoused individuals visiting. As a designated warming center in Oswego, the library has seen increased demand for basic necessities and supportive resources.

Building Awareness Through Community Engagement

In addition to grantmaking and direct support, the Alliance is launching a new public awareness initiative: its first-ever “Souper Bowl” Canned Soup Drive to benefit Blessings in a Backpack – Oswego throughout the month of February. The drive is being held in partnership with several local businesses, primarily neighborhood restaurants and gathering places serving as drop-off locations, including the Richard S. Shineman Foundation office at 121 East 1st Street. Additional drop-off locations include Old City Hall, Steamers, The Press Box, The Hole, Woodchucks, and The Press Box. Donations will be accepted during regular business hours at each location.

Blessings in a Backpack – Oswego currently serves more than 400 students, providing backpacks filled with food every weekend to help ensure children have meals when school is not in session.

The Alliance’s goal is to not only help strengthen this essential effort, but also to raise community awareness about food insecurity among local students and better understand the realities facing families in the Oswego City School District and across the county.

“No single organization can solve food insecurity alone,” said Chena Tucker, Foundation Director. “These awards reflect the power of partnership—supporting school-based programs, strengthening meal sites, and improving food storage so community organizations can serve more people safely and consistently. We’re building a stronger network of support across Oswego County, and this is just the beginning.”

The Oswego County Food Security Alliance will continue to build partnerships and invest in programs that address hunger, strengthen local systems, and ensure that all residents have access to safe, nourishing food. For more information about these initiatives or how you can be involved, please contact the Richard S. Shineman Foundation at (315) 216-6644.

About the Oswego County Food Security Alliance

The Oswego County Food Security Alliance is a collaborative effort focused on addressing hunger and improving food access throughout Oswego County. Led by the Richard S. Shineman Foundation, the Alliance works through grantmaking, partnerships, and community support initiatives to strengthen local food systems and support organizations serving residents experiencing food insecurity.

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