What: The JPC Drive-Thru Food Giveaway
When: Mon, Dec 14, from 2 pm to 7:30 pm. (Rain-Snow or Shine)



What: Walkers JPC Food Giveaway

When: Tue, Dec 15, from 3 pm to 6 pm. (Rain-Snow or Shine)



Where: Johnson Park Center Food Pantry – 1400 West Street (Block), NY 13501


Contact: JPC Office from 1 pm to 5 pm (315) 734-9608

Email at revmeier@johnsonparkcenter.org



Utica, NY. The Christmas/Holiday Season is a joyous time of the year. We celebrate with our families and friends sharing our love, providing hope, singing songs, and giving gifts. We have specially prepared holiday meals and delicious desserts. But for many people, holidays are a time full of stress, maybe only a wish and not a reality when you cannot afford the Food for the special Christmas Dinner. And this year, many people are being challenged because of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID19). It is causing long-term problems, as we are currently in the second wave of the COVID19. Due to the large increase of COVID-19 cases, with many people in the hospital, some social distancing restrictions include limiting travel and not attending large gatherings even in your own residence. In fact, many are faced with paying rent, the National Grid bill, or putting food on the table. We, as a community, are working together to fight hunger and food insecurity. Thanks to the Mohawk Valley COVID-19 Respond Fund created by the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and the United Way of the Mohawk Valley, established a single community-wide fund. The Johnson Park Center (JPC) received COVID-19 Respond Fund Grant Awards to provide food to the community. With the generous support from the Food Bank of Central New York (FBCNY) and Donors, JPC will have a Drive-Thru Food Giveaway for disadvantaged individuals and families around JPC Sites Rain-Snow or Shine on Monday, December 15, 2020, from 2 pm to 7:30 pm.



Starting on the corner of Arthur and West Streets, cars/vehicles will line up at the registration station where JPC Intake Persons, wearing face masks, will assist you with completing the Intake Form. They will place the number of households represented in each car on its windshield. Then you will drive up to each Food station, where volunteers will put the food in your car/vehicle.



If you do not have a car/vehicle, please come to the Walkers Food Giveaway Rain-Snow or Shine on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, between 3 pm to 6 pm at JPC Food Pantry 1404 West Street, Utica, New York 13501



A tractor-trailer full of food will be available to be given to the community. Food items may include chicken, fish, eggs, cheese, fresh produce, fresh fruit, rice, pasta, cereal, canned items such as soup, beans, etc.



During these challenging times of the pandemic, by fighting hunger and food insecurity, the JPC Food Giveaway helps families & individuals to have food for Christmas, be food secured, and a stepping stone to self-sufficiency.



Please join us as we need additional sponsors, donors, volunteers, and media to make long-term commitments to fight hunger and food insecurity. To all who made investments and partnered with JPC this year, you are amazing. JPC is so grateful and appreciative of your dedication to serving families, children, and single individuals in need. Thank you to the Mohawk Valley COVID-19 Respond Fund single the community-wide fund, the Food Bank of Central New York (FBCNY), the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), the United Way of the Mohawk Valley, Utica National Foundation Group, M&T Bank/Partners Charitable Fund, the Mele Family Fund, and anonymous donor-advised funds of the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties; the Bank of Utica, the UFCW Charity Golf Classic, Inc.; The NBT Bank: the Central New York Labor Council AFL-CIO; the Hartford Fire Insurance, a donor-advised fund of the Benevity Community Impact Fund; MVP Health Plan, Inc.; Jay-K Lumber; Carbone Auto Group, Jimmy John's, MV Community Action Agency, the Compassion Coalition, CASA Imports, Candella's Farm & Greenhouses, and the Mohawk Street Hannaford. We received monetary and food donations from various donors, businesses, organizations, and individual supporters, the Volunteers, the American Red Cross, the Junior Frontiers, JPC/JPA Staff & Shelter Program Participants, and Media Coverage from WKTV, WUTR, Spectrum News, the Observer-Dispatch, the Utica Phoenix, and 96.1 The Eagle.



Thank you so much for your continual support and Join Positive Change at Johnson Park Center (JPC).





Rev. Dr. Maria A. Scates, D.D.
CEO / Founder

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