A partnership at West Street Apartments supplied food, hygiene items and backpacks, while the Rescue Mission continues regular food assistance.
UTICA, N.Y. A giveaway at the Rescue Mission of Utica’s West Street Apartments provided food and daily essentials for 400 neighborhood families, according to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. This event represents a significant contribution to the Utica food giveaway effort, which supports families in need across the area.
The Sheriff’s Office said it joined the effort and credited the Rescue Mission, Feed the Children and Price Rite Marketplace with making the distribution possible. Its official announcement lists food, hygiene items and backpacks among the supplies provided.
The Feed the Children Resource Rally took place Thursday, October 15. The Daily Sentinel’s reporting from the event described nearly 400 families receiving help outside the apartments.
Support beyond a bag of groceries
According to the Sentinel, the packages included a 25-pound food box, a 15-pound box of personal care products, a case of water, a Price Rite gift card and a backpack with school supplies. Price Rite volunteers helped get those items to families.
The event brought a local service organization together with a national hunger-relief group, a grocery retailer and public officials. The supplies addressed several immediate household needs at the same stop.
Where residents can look for continuing help
The October 15 giveaway has ended. For ongoing food assistance, the Rescue Mission’s Community Service Program page lists the Dr. Alap A. Butala Food Pantry at 1013 West Street in Utica, using the Community Services entrance.
The page describes a client-choice pantry where families select food, including fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins. It also says the program offers counseling, advocacy and referrals for other needs.
As of October 16, the posted schedule lists Monday, Thursday and Friday service, with distributions at 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The page says 24 boxes are available at each distribution time, with a one-box-per-week limit and a maximum of two visits per month.
The same page uses both client-choice and food-box language. Residents should confirm the current process and availability before making a trip, especially because supplies are limited. The listed program contact is 315-735-1645, extension 2108.
Other ways the Mission serves the community
The Rescue Mission also says it offers free breakfast, lunch and dinner to community members who are hungry. Its program page links to meal times and additional service information.
For people interested in supporting the food program, the Mission directs food donations to its Food Service Department at 201 Rutger Street, at the red loading-dock door. Its website provides a food list and contact information to help donors check what is needed.
Reporting draws on the Sheriff’s Office announcement, the Daily Sentinel’s event coverage and current Rescue Mission service information. The graphics are original explainers, not photographs of the distribution.
