fter a devastating fire wiped out the only grocery store in southern Seneca County, local farmers stepped up to help families facing food insecurity.
The Seneca County Farm Bureau donated $1,600 worth of food vouchers to the South Seneca Ecumenical Food Pantry in Ovid. The vouchers can be redeemed at Schrader Farms in Romulus, which sells local meats and farm products.
A response to disaster
The donation comes months after a January 21 fire destroyed a full city block in Ovid — including five businesses and several apartments. Among the losses was Big M, the town’s only grocery store and a vital resource for nearby rural communities.
The fire effectively created a food desert in the area. In response, the Farm Bureau created a Disaster Relief Fund and began collecting donations to support long-term recovery.
Partnership brings relief to those in need
Schrader Farms partnered with the Farm Bureau to turn those donations into tangible support. Pantry clients will now be able to use the vouchers to buy fresh, local meat.
“This year has been a challenge for our community on many levels,” said Diane Kelly, Director of the South Seneca Food Pantry. “Your gift will help us continue to feed those in need in the Ovid area.”
Farm Bureau President Kaylee Borden said the effort reflects a broader mission. “We are here to support our rural communities,” she said. “We strive to end food deserts.”
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