CORNING, N.Y. — Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) has awarded a $185,000 grant to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier to support eight school food centers in Chemung and Steuben counties. Each school will receive $22,500 to sustain school-based food pantries, with an additional $5,000 allocated for project management, Corning Inc. said in an Oct. […]
CORNING, N.Y. — Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) has awarded a $185,000 grant to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier to support eight school food centers in Chemung and Steuben counties.
Each school will receive $22,500 to sustain school-based food pantries, with an additional $5,000 allocated for project management, Corning Inc. said in an Oct. 15 announcement.
Part of a Food Bank initiative, school food centers serve as spaces where food and other grocery items can be distributed at no cost within a school, providing students and their families with consistent access to nutritious meals in a supportive, inclusive environment, the organization contends.
The Corning Inc. grant will support the Food Bank’s efforts to combat food insecurity in the Southern Tier, where levels far outpace the national average. Currently, 73,070 individuals in the region — including thousands of children — are at risk of hunger annually. Chemung and Steuben counties are among the hardest-hit areas in New York state, with child food insecurity rates at 25 percent and 26.7 percent above the national average, respectively.
“Food insecurity remains a heartbreaking challenge in the Southern Tier, particularly for children,” said Millicent Ruffin, division VP at Corning Community Impact (CCI). “Tackling this issue requires decisive yet collaborative action. We’re proud to partner with the Food Bank to support its innovative School Food Centers, which ensure that families in our community have access to healthy food and essential resources.”
Established in December 2023, CCI centralizes Corning’s philanthropic contributions in the U.S. under a single organization to maximize impact in areas that align closely with its values and business objectives, the company says.
“School Food Centers are transforming how we support families,” Mark Bordeau, president and CEO of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, said in the Corning announcement. “By embedding food assistance into schools, we meet students and families where they are — building trust and reducing stigma. Corning’s generous support will help us expand this program and ensure no child has to wonder where their next meal is coming from.”
The school food center program also offers older students the chance to develop leadership and life skills through activities ranging from inventory management and budgeting to customer service.
