The Navigator Classroom at The Neighborhood Center is rallying community members, local businesses, and organizations to support their annual food drive, aiming to surpass last year’s achievement of collecting 5,000 pounds of food for 300 families in need. This dedicated classroom is on a mission to make an even bigger impact this year by partnering with sponsors to “adopt” food items such as corn, green beans, and turkeys to help address the growing food insecurity in the area this holiday season.
Several local businesses have already joined forces to champion the drive, including Slocum Dickson Medical Group, Body by Design, C&D Advertising, Birch Wealth Management, Wheelock Disposal Service, Stephanie Utter State Farm Insurance, Danceography, and Valley Gymnastics. While these sponsorships will help the Navigator Classroom reach more families, additional support is still needed to make a lasting impact.
“We’re so proud of children for their commitment to our community. Their enthusiasm and compassion have been contagious, inspiring others to step forward and make a difference,” said Sandra Soroka, Executive Director of The Neighborhood Center. “With the help of even more local sponsors, we can reach new heights and help feed even more families.”
The Navigator Classroom is inviting other local businesses and individuals to join in as sponsors and amplify the drive’s reach. By “adopting” a food, sponsors can provide much-needed resources and support to help the team collect, store, and distribute food to thousands of individuals who rely on this effort each year. Contributions of any kind are welcomed, whether through food donations, financial contributions, or volunteer support.
For information on how to get involved in this year’s food drive, contact Jennifer Benn at jenniferb@neighborhoodctr.org or (315) 272-2631. Together, The Neighborhood Center and its community partners can help the Navigator Classroom surpass last year’s record and provide crucial support to families in need.
The public can donate canned goods and boxed goods at the following Neighborhood Center, Inc. sites:
- Administration, 624 Elizabeth Street Utica NY 13501
- Utica Clinic, 628 Mary Street Utica NY 13501
- Rome Clinic, 199 W Dominick St # 2, Rome, NY 13440
- North Utica Community Center, 50 Riverside Drive, Utica, NY 13502
For those looking to make a monetary donation, please visit The Neighborhood Center website at www.neighborhoodctr.org.