Potsdam Snack Pack Program

The Potsdam Snack Packs program is a great example of what a person can accomplish with vision and determination. Laurell Brault began pursuing this program in April 2016 after observing that other St. Lawrence County schools such as Canton, Massena, and Ogdensburg had successful backpack programs and Potsdam did not. The need definitely exists in Potsdam; about 30 percent of students at Lawrence Avenue Elementary School are eligible for free or reduced lunch, and as of January, 100 elementary students are receiving weekly snack packages from the program. 

"The addition of the Snack Pack program is great news for the families at Lawrence Avenue. In our community we do not always know just how much a family might be struggling and we want them to know we see how hard they are working to provide for their children. We want to help families in any way we can to ensure are students are getting adequate nutrition," Lawrence Avenue Principal Jennifer Gray has stated.

This program receives no funding from the school district; it's entirely run by volunteer power. In particular, the Potsdam Lions Club has stepped up to provide assistance, and the program is housed at New Hope Community Church in Potsdam. GardenShare wants to be a part of the continued health of this program, which is why we're focusing on it, as well as Canton's Golden Bear Packs, for our Martin Luther King Jr. Day food drive this year. 

Please help GardenShare make Martin Luther King Jr. Day "a day on, not a day off" by collecting food to benefit these worthy programs! Food can be dropped off at our collection points between noon and 4:00 PM on Friday. Check out our website at www.gardenshare.org for specifics on what food is needed and where the collection points are located.