As Thanksgiving approaches, 125 families and staff at Indian Lake Central School received a gift of locally raised food through AdkAction’s Farm-to-Family initiative – a celebration of community, gratitude, and the Adirondack harvest.
Each package included a pasture-raised turkey or local beef roast, and fresh, seasonal vegetables sourced from small farms across the Adirondacks. The food was purchased directly from local producers and delivered to Indian Lake just in time for the holiday.
The Farm-to-Family effort builds on AdkAction’s ongoing work to expand access to fresh, locally grown food throughout the Adirondack region, including through its Fair Share CSA Program, which has connected hundreds of households with farm-fresh produce over the last two summers. The Thanksgiving delivery also marks the conclusion of AdkAction’s participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s New York Food for New York Families grant program, which supported access to local food for households across the region.
“Indian Lake is a community that sits in the heart of the Adirondacks but has very few farms nearby — in fact, Hamilton County has almost no food-producing farms,” said Sawyer Bailey, Executive Director of AdkAction. “At the same time, nearly half of Indian Lake’s students come from economically disadvantaged households. This program is about bridging that distance between Adirondack farms and Adirondack families, and celebrating the incredible food grown right here in our region.”
The food for the program came from a network of trusted local farms including North Point Community Farm (Plattsburgh), Reber Rock Farm and Full and By Farm (Essex), Mace Chasm Farm (Keeseville), Harmony Hills Farmstead (Malone), and Cook Farm (Owls Head).
Marisa Lenetsky of North Point Community Farm said, “We’re proud to be part of this effort. We put so much care into growing healthy food, and knowing it will help make the holiday a little brighter for local families is incredibly meaningful.”
Racey Henderson of Reber Rock Farm added, “This program highlights what makes AdkAction and the Adirondacks special: neighbors caring for neighbors. AdkAction’s decision to purchase healthy organic food from us keeps resources in our community and multiplies the benefit of each dollar across each farm business and each feasting family, strengthening our regional food system at every level.”
At the local level, AdkAction’s relationships in Indian Lake have been growing through another community project: the creation of a large pollinator habitat on the site of the former town landfill, now in its second year of establishment. Through that work, AdkAction staff have gotten to know local residents, town officials, and the school community. The Thanksgiving Farm-to-Family effort was a natural next step.
Mellissa Mulvey, Principal and Superintendent of Indian Lake Central School said, “The Thanksgiving Bundles project truly reflects what makes Indian Lake such a special place. Our students, staff, and families come together with humility and gratitude, willing to accept help when needed and eager to give when they can. This initiative not only provides for families in need but also teaches our students the lasting value of caring for one another.”
Bailey added, “This is the season of giving and gratitude — and for us, this program is about sharing abundance, not charity. Every bite of this food tells a story about Adirondack soil, farmers, and community.”
