To the Editor:

GardenShare would like to thank attendees, volunteers, and community partners for supporting our first ever Fight Hunger Fair and 5K event. Together, we were able to raise $16,000 to continue GardenShare’s mission to ensure food security for all St. Lawrence County residents.

The Fight Hunger Fair and 5K consisted of educational activities for all ages, community partners sharing resources, music, drinks provided by One Steep at a Time, a 50/50 raffle, and the 5K run/walk. It also featured the presentation of GardenShare’s 2022 Growing Community Award to organization founder, Phil Harnden. Over 90 participants moved to fight hunger, many in person or on their own in a virtual event.

Angela Villeneuve-Bronson, co-chair for the Fight Hunger Fair and 5K, shared, “The presence and support of so many students from area universities - and not just SLU - as volunteers and 5K participants was one of the biggest highlights for me on Sunday, and especially having them be present for Phil's remarks. Remarkable community-building.”

We’d like to thank our sponsors who pledged to fight hunger with GardenShare: Brookfield Renewable, Corning Foundation, EDF Renewables, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, St. Lawrence Health, NuMED For Children, Stauffer Farms, S&L Electric, Linden Law Canton, Sandstone Family Dentistry, SeaComm, SLIC Network Solutions, Apothecary Chocolates, Adon Farms, St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union, Bill Rapp of Ogdensburg, Save A Lot, Pinto Mucenski Hooper Van House & Co., Claxton Hepburn Medical Center, and Casella Waste.

We look forward to next year’s event!

Fight Hunger Fair and 5K planning committee