Hero Story

In March 2020, with the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 100% volunteer-run Otsego County Food Pantry found itself overwhelmed with a 734% increase in demand for food over the same period in March of 2019. Suddenly, this "little pantry that could" was catapulted into overdrive. Not only did they keep ahead with unprecedented increases in demand for food, but they were also able to implement new partnerships with local schools, commodities programs, weekend backpack programs, weekly drive-through events, and helped churches to get food to those in need. Prior to 2020, families could visit the pantry up to three times per year and receive three weeks worth of food based on individual family size.

When Covid restrictions were lifted, food security continues to be offered to any and all county residents as needed. This AmeriCorps Seniors Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) station ramped up its services to help those in need, and it did so with one-third fewer volunteers than pre-Covid. All of the volunteers in RSVP are 55 years of age and older, and in the demographic told to "stay home and stay well." These brave souls worked twice as hard as any other station in RSVP and continue to see increases in demand each month over the previous year when Covid-19 was at its peak. In September 2021, we held a volunteer appreciation event for the 41 brave souls who worked an impressive 100 hours or more during the height of Covid, from March 1, 2020-March 31, 2021. We are so proud to be associated with them! Not only do they feed people, they exemplify a community that cares about the needs of others at all times.