What: The JPC Drive-Thru Free Food and Go With A Smile Back To School Supplies Giveaway

When:  Monday, August 21, 2023, from 2 pm to 6:30 pm. (Rain or Shine)

What: The JPC Walkers Free Food and School Supplies Giveaway

When: Tuesday, August 22, 2023, from 2 pm to 6 pm. (Rain or Shine)  

Where: Johnson Park Center (JPC) Food Pantry, 1400 West Street (Block) Utica, NY 13501

Contact: JPC Office from 1 pm to 5 pm (315) 734-9608

E-mail at [email protected]

Utica, NY. On behalf of the JCTOD Outreach, Inc. (dba) Johnson Park Center (JPC) Free Choice Food Pantry, our Program Participants, Staff, and Board of Directors are honored and grateful to have served the community with continuous positive change for 28 years. We invite you to the JPC Drive-Thru (Cars/Vehicles Only) Free Food and Go With A Smile School Supplies Giveaway for disadvantaged families, seniors, and single individuals around JPC Sites in the 1400 Block of West Street, Utica, New York 13501 "Rain or Shine" on Monday, August 21, 2023, from 2 pm to 6:30 pm.

We welcome all low-income families and single individuals who meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) low-income eligible requirement. (See below) For all who will come to the Food Pantry for the first time, JPC needs the head of household to bring the Identification (IDs) of all people living with you. Acceptable Government Issued IDs such as Birth Certificates, NYS Driver's Licenses, NYS Photo IDs, Social Security Cards, and NYS Benefit Cards. For our JPC Food Pantry Consumers who need to recertify for the JPC Annual Low-Income Recertification, please bring your JPC Food Pantry Card (JPCFPC), the Acceptable Government Identification (IDs) as previously stated for all people in your household, and meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) low-income eligible requirement. (See below).

Food to be given to the community, drumsticks, shrimp, eggs, ziti, rice, elbow macaroni, product boxes, fresh produce, fresh fruit, blueberries, cereal, saltine crackers, snacks, etc.

 About "The Go With A Smile School Supplies," all registered students from ages three to 18 years of age listed on the parent or caregiver as head of household will receive school supplies:

(1) current JPC Food Pantry Card (JPCFPC),  

(2) temporary  JPCFPC issued on-site on the day of the event for lost, new, or updated Food Pantry Intake Applications

(3) For Adults Students- age 19 and over, current or temporary JPCFPC as head of household with an Acceptable Government Issue for proof of age, documented proof of school, education, or training programs attending.

JPC Registration/Intake Personnel will give the head of household School Supplies Tickets based on the number of registered students.

New-Starting on the corner of Leah and 1300 block of West Streets, cars/vehicles will line up at the registration station. The Registration Personnel will scan all heads of households' JPC Food Pantry Cards (JPCFPC) in a car/vehicle.

If you are picking up JPCFPC, the Registration Personnel may ask you to print your name and check the processed cards. If the Registration Personnel finds your card, they will give it to you.

Suppose you, the head of household, have come to the JPC Food Pantry (FP):

a.      to pick up your JPCFPC, and it was not found. Re-submit a new FP Intake Application

b.      For the first time, complete an FP Intake application.

c.       Need to add or remove people from your FP Intake application on file

d.      replace a lost JPCFPC

The Registration Personnel will direct you to the Intake Station. The Intake Personnel can help you finish the required JPC FP Intake Application.

The Registration or Intake Personnel will place the number of households represented in each car on its windshield. You will go to the next station, sign in, and receive school supplies tickets based on the number of registered students on your JPCFPC or temporary JPCFPC. You will then proceed to the various food stations. A worker will collect your school supplies tickets, and you will receive your school supplies. After receiving "The Go With A Smile School Supplies, keep driving and receive all the additional Food. Thank you for coming, and you will exit the JPC Free Choice Food Pantry area.    

If you do not have a car/vehicle, please come to the JPC Walkers Free Food and Go With A Smile School Supplies Giveaway on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, between 2 pm to 6 pm in the 1400 Block of West Street Utica, New York 13501. 

Please join us as we need additional sponsors, donors, volunteers, and media to make long-term commitments to fight hunger and food insecurity. We are so grateful to all currently making investments and partnering with JPC's dedication to serving families, children, and single individuals in need. The Events & Activities are being sponsored in part by Food Bank of Central New York (FBCNY); the Compassion Coalition; the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), CASA Imports, Candella's Farm & Greenhouse, the Mohawk Street Hannaford, American Society of Civil Engineers, United States Post Office, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Syracuse, and The Grand; Riccelli Trucking, Catenary Construction Inc. UDTE FCE, Centene Healthcare, Builders Choice Lumber, Excellus Health Plan, Inc., MVP Health Plan, Inc., Indium Corporation of America, First Source Federal Credit Union; Levitt & Gordon Attorneys at Law, SBT Enterprises, Inc., Utica District Telephone Employee FCU, Bank of Utica, Berkshire Bank Foundation, Murphy Excavating Corp, Lakeview Law & Landscape; the Rowan Group Inc., CREE – Wolfspeed, Walmart, The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Northern Safety & Industrial, Apex Document Solutions, the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties; Joseph Flihan Co., the Carter Store, the United Way of the Mohawk Valley; Utica National Foundation Group, Capraro Technologies, Inc. (CTI), the Dicks Fund, Family the Friends of Johnson Park Center Education Fund, "M&T Bank/Partners Charitable Fund all are Donor-Advised Funds at the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties;"  Stericycle Inc., Utica Roadrunners, HUD Supportive Housing Program, NYS Homeless and Assistance Program (HHAP), NYS Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI), NYS Supportive Housing Program, Mrs. Evon M. Ervin Oneida County Legislator, District #20, Parts of Utica, the Oneida County Youth Bureau and Department of Social Services: Mr. Venice Ervin, Utica Councilman, 5th District, City of Utica Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solution Grant, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), HOME Program;  Zion Lutheran Church, City Church, First Baptist Church, JCTOD Church & Seed of Hope. We received monetary and Food donations from various donors, businesses, organizations, and individual supporters; the Oneida County Youth Employment Program; our Fantastic Volunteers, JPC/JPA Staff & Shelter Program Participants, JPC Facebook Encouragers and Supporters; and Media Coverage from WKTV, WUTR, Spectrum News, the Utica Phoenix, the Observer-Dispatch, Rome Sentinel, 96.1 The Eagle, Bug Country 99.7 & 101.1, Talk of the Town 100.7, and American Town Utica.

Thank you for your continued support & Join Positive Change at Johnson Park Center (JPC).