Dear Friends and Community Partners,

As we pause for Thanksgiving, my thoughts are filled with appreciation for the incredible people who make up our community. This season reminds me that our strength doesn’t come from any one effort, but from the collective spirit we bring when we show up for one another.

It is in this spirit of shared purpose and cooperation that I’m honored to share an important milestone. Since early summer, we have been exploring a countywide effort to strengthen our food system. Today, I am proud to announce the upcoming launch of the Oswego County Food Security Alliance in January 2026.

The Alliance will bring together food providers—including the Food Bank of CNY—along with nonprofit, education, and government partners, as well as community leaders, to work toward a more coordinated, strategic, and resilient approach to food security. Recent challenges and increasing community needs have underscored what many of you already know: an issue that has long been critical has now become a crisis for many families.

By working together—sharing insights, resources, and solutions—we can strengthen our collective response and move toward greater food security for everyone in Oswego County.

This Thanksgiving, all of us at the Foundation are deeply grateful for your partnership, your trust, and your unwavering commitment to our community. May this season bring rest, joy, and connection to you and your families—and may we continue, together, to create a community where reciprocity isn’t just said, but lived and felt each day.

With warmth and appreciation,

Chena Tucker

Foundation Director

Richard S. Shineman Foundation