News from the Noteworthy from the Community Foundation of Otsego County
Fall Awards Target Hunger, Food Insecurity
Hunger in Otsego County is widespread and growing. Cuts in federal programs including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits scheduled for November will affect 13 percent—or nearly 8,000—of the county’s residents. Current economic instability adds further uncertainty.
In response, the Community Foundation of Otsego County opened its Fall Awards cycle on September 19 for programs related to family and child welfare, with a focus on food insecurity. The application period ends at midnight on Wednesday, October 23.
To raise more funds to address the food insecurity issue, CFOC introduced “Feed Otsego” as part of this year’s Mohawk Valley Gives fundraising campaign. The idea was that funds raised during “Feed Otsego” would be added directly to the Fall Awards.
With $10,000.00 matches from the Edward W. Stack Family and Edie and Pat Yinkey funds at CFOC, NYCM Insurance, and an anonymous donor, “Feed Otsego” raised a remarkable $50,000.00. That allowed us to increase the Fall Awards allocation to $150,000.00.
We also consulted experts for ideas on addressing today’s challenges. Here are their thoughts:
- Give support to reduce the effect of cuts in federal and regional food programs, such as SNAP.
- Give support to reduce the effect of new governmental requirements for food pantries, such as new requirements on food safety practices.
- Help SNAP and Medicaid recipients meet new work reporting requirements, through more disability screenings, jobs programs and volunteer placements.
- Create or expand school-based food programs, including school breakfast and afterschool snack/supper participation.
- Focus on new or expanded healthy eating programs.
- Provide for new or increased need for hygiene products or other necessities not covered by governmental programs.
- Better address transportation issues for both food and people.
- Improve coordination among food charities.
- Reduce food waste, including through more localized food processing.
- Develop new ideas to meet growing needs and aid nonprofit capacity building.
- These examples cover a wide range of application types, but other programs may fit as well.
CFOC thanks its partners—the Mildred Parish Foundation at CFOC, the Black Family Foundation, the Black Family Foundation Fund at the Richland Community Foundation, and the Tianaderrah Foundation—for their support of this vital investment in our community’s health.
More information on the cycle can be found at cfotsego.org/fall-2026-awards-cycle/. For any questions, contact Jeff Katz at jeff@cfotsego.org.
Jeff Katz is the executive director of the Community Foundation of Otsego County.
