UTICA, N.Y. – Food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other human-service organizations are receiving more than $149,000 through the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties’ Helpful Harvest grants round as the region prepares for the holiday season and colder months.

The foundation reported the awards to more than 40 organizations in its October nonprofit newsletter, distributed Oct. 29. The announcement also outlined another way for donors to help meet local needs: a Helpful Harvest Giving Guide expected to become available online in early November.

The Helpful Harvest grants and the coming guide serve different purposes. The grant awards have already been made, according to the foundation. Donations generated through the guide would provide additional support, not replace those awards.

More support for organizations addressing hunger

The Helpful Harvest Fund supports human-service organizations responding to food insecurity and economic hardship among Herkimer and Oneida county residents. Its work includes support for organizations providing food and meals during November and December.

The foundation said all eligible applicants from the Helpful Harvest round will appear in the coming giving guide. That online catalog will let donors review organizations’ needs and choose where to direct support.

The newsletter did not provide a complete list of this year’s recipients, individual award amounts or a precise launch date for the guide. The reported total is more than $149,000, not an exact final figure. Residents should check the foundation’s website for the guide’s release rather than assume it is already accepting donations.

For readers, the distinction matters: this announcement concerns grants to service organizations. It is not an announcement of a new direct cash benefit or an application for individual households.

Herkimer County grant applications open Nov. 1

A separate opportunity begins Sunday, Nov. 1, when the foundation opens its Herkimer County Grant Round. Organizations located in the county may seek up to $15,000 for projects with measurable results.

The official grant guidelines set a deadline of Monday, Nov. 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Total project budgets may not exceed $25,000, and projects must begin in January 2027 or later.

Eligible applicants include qualifying nonprofits, organizations with a nonprofit fiscal sponsor, government and educational institutions, and faith-based organizations proposing nonreligious work that serves people regardless of faith.

Only one application per organization will be considered. The foundation excludes individual assistance, payroll and operating needs, already-incurred expenses, capital campaigns and religious programming. It says award notices will go out within 30 days and cautions that applying does not guarantee funding.

Giving guide connects donors with smaller local needs

The newsletter also reported three recently completed funding requests through the broader Mohawk Valley Giving Guide. These are separate from the Helpful Harvest awards.

• Prospect Free Library: Two browsing carts will let children see book covers as they look for something to read.
• Voice of Da Voiceless: Funding will support its C.O.R.Y. Program, which provides weekly youth activities through partnerships with the Parkway Recreation Center and Mohawk Valley Community College.
• The 100 Acre Wood Farm & Forest School: Support will help cover tuition assistance and shared outdoor equipment and clothing for nature-based learning.

The examples show the different kinds of requests included in the guide, from children’s literacy to youth activities and outdoor education. The foundation did not give dollar amounts for those three completed requests in the newsletter.

Readers can review current needs in the Mohawk Valley Giving Guide. Organizations considering the November grant round should review the full criteria before preparing an application.

Source: Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, October Nonprofit e-Newsletter, distributed Oct. 29, 2026; official Helpful Harvest Fund and grant-opportunity pages. The award total and recently funded giving-guide requests are attributed to the foundation’s newsletter.