NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

Our Values

King Ferry Food Pantry believes that food is a basic human right and is committed to providing access to healthy food and resources for our neighbors in need. We want to assist those who are most vulnerable to poverty and hunger to not merely survive, but to thrive in our community. We embrace these values:

Culture of Collaboration and Excellence

We are committed to providing an environment in which everyone shares a sense of belonging. We bring together a diverse group of community members and partners who share our vision of a healthy, food secure community. We honor these relationships by fostering trust, respect, and good will at the highest level of professional excellence as we work to accomplish our mission.

Dedication to Diversity and Equity

We respect the inherent worth and dignity of every person in our community. We look beyond social categorizations and embrace diversity of thought and perspective that comes from lived experiences of people from different backgrounds. Aspects of shared values and life experiences have a meaningful place and by providing services through an equity lens, we level the playing field for our most vulnerable neighbors.

Quality Leadership and Staff

We value our staff and volunteers’ diverse talents, backgrounds, passion, and commitment to our neighbors who are food insecure. We seek to continuously improve services provided for our clients through excellent leadership, creativity, innovation, and the sharing of expertise with the goal of a healthy, food secure community.

Respect and Dignity

We embrace a culture of inclusiveness. We respect the intrinsic dignity and innate worth of all people and reflect that respect in every interaction. We provide services in a way that treats our clients as neighbors and friends.

Stewardship and Accountability

We are committed to responsible stewardship of the time our stakeholders give us, the talents they share with us, and the funds they invest in us. We hold ourselves accountable for enhancing our services to achieve the greatest impact through the efficient, honest, transparent, and responsible use of the resources generously entrusted us.

Our History

In 1996 the Social Ministry Committee of the Cayuga Team Ministry Cluster (later named Good Shepherd Catholic Community) began outreach to seasonal neighbors living at a local migrant labor camp. As part of this mission work, the Migrant Farm Worker Food Pantry was started to serve those at the labor camp. In 2009 the food pantry name changed to King Ferry Food Pantry as the pantry expanded to serve the larger community needs. Good Shepherd Catholic Community supported our work by providing the 501(c)3 under which the pantry operated, and provided space for the pantry site.

In 2016 the pantry became an independent nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation overseen by a community board of directors, operating with a core group of 60-70 volunteers who share a commitment and passion for feeding our neighbors in need. Driven by need, the pantry moved into a larger facility and expanded services to better meet the needs of our community. Community generosity of food and finances over the years has enabled the pantry to keep up with the increasing needs. Good stewardship of resources allows the pantry to operate efficiently with support from community friends and supporters, and various grants.

We receive and collect donated food from local grocery stores, the Food Bank of Central New York, and local food producers. We sort, organize, store and distribute food for clients. Our services are provided at no charge to low-income families living in the Southern Cayuga School District.