The Partial Observer by Maureen Murray

Cooperstown Food Pantry Thriving with Continuing Support

The Cooperstown Food Pantry is extremely grateful to its community of donors who, at the end of 2023, contributed to a successful fund-raising activity. The Cooperstown Food Pantry Inc. is a non-profit tax-exempt organization, serving Otsego County since 1977. Its mission is to address issues of poverty and hunger in our county.

There are many reasons for the organization to be grateful. At the end of 2023, a matching grant of $10,000.00 from The Scriven Foundation, as well as an anonymous donor’s gift of $5,000.00, gave the organization a vigorous jump start. Businesses, churches, community organizations, individuals and Cooperstown Food Pantry volunteers contributed an additional $92,661.00.

Executive Director of the Cooperstown Food Pantry, Will Kleffner, commented, “Our volunteers—without whom the food pantry could not help families, children, and seniors in this time of higher costs of food, gas, and utilities—routinely donate their time and talents. These last several months, they also donated their treasure.”

“These dollars have excellent value to the Cooperstown Food Pantry,” said Cooperstown Food Pantry President Sharon Oberriter. She went on to say, “The staff know how to leverage every $1.00 to purchase up to $10.00 of food. The sorely-needed funds generated from such a supportive community are essential to our goal of freeing our friends and neighbors from the bonds of food insecurity.”

The number of households visiting the Cooperstown Food Pantry in 2023 increased by 21 percent from 2022. When numbers of persons served by the food pantry are compared from 2022 to 2023, the increase is 14 percent. The Cooperstown Food Pantry continues to serve multigenerational households, but is also serving an increased number of seniors (60+) and children (under 18).
The Cooperstown Food Pantry serves all of Otsego County from its location at 25 Church Street in the Village of Cooperstown. Two food pantry programs, started in 2023, serve extended groups of persons with food insecurity. The residents of Phoenix Orchards (Tiny Houses Project) received 51 distributions of food, with a value of $4,400.00 this past year. In collaboration with Mark Kirkby, program manager of Bassett Cancer Services, the food pantry organized and prepared 16 food distributions, valued at $1,369.00, to selected patients, covering eight additional counties.

The Cooperstown Food Pantry thanks its community of supporters, especially The Scriven Foundation and the additional anonymous donor, who continue to help with a mission begun nearly 50 years ago by founder Ellen St. John.

Maureen Murray is secretary to the board and a volunteer at the Cooperstown Food Pantry.