BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – Is there anything better than a free Blizzard at the Canton Dairy Queen?

How about enjoying that popular ice cream treat while helping put food in the mouths of thousands of St. Lawrence County children.

From January 14-28, patrons will receive a free medium Blizzard with a donation of non-perishable food items. Those food items include a 16 pack of fruit & grain bars; 4 pack of mac & cheese cups, 4 pack of tuna, 24 pack of granola bars, or a 20 pack of oatmeal.

“We have always personally donated to and supported local programs but we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to utilize the Dairy Queen to raise awareness and generate more donations collectively,” said Jessica Putman, who owns the recently-rebuilt Canton Dairy Queen, 51 Gouverneur St., with John Putman and Joshua Crabtree. “In order to make a bigger impact, Canton Dairy Queen is pledging to match all donations.”

‘We spoke with several local programs such as the backpack program and the neighborhood centers and these [food] items appear to be the most beneficial universally,” Putman added.

The food drive is not part of a national Dairy Queen promotion. Being locally owned and operated, the three owners, on their own, are reaching out to the community for support.

“We wanted to do this to help our community. Food insecurity is a real concern for many in St. Lawrence County and these programs are vital to the survival of many families,” Putman remarked.

The food drive, like the Dairy Queen’s current operation, is drive-thru or curbside only due to the large COVID-19 outbreak.

“Our staff is anxious to start gathering donations. Many of them were on the receiving end of these programs at one point in time and they are excited for the opportunity to give back,” Putman stated. “To take part in gathering the donations, knowing how much of an impact it can have on someone in need, is a rewarding experience. We look forward to future opportunities to support our local community.”

When asked what are the more popular Blizzard flavors, she alluded to the classics - Oreo, Butterfinger and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup but rallied behind the Oreo Mocha Fudge Blizzard.

The Canton Dairy Queen is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.