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In the Adirondacks, access to healthy, affordable food means battling long distances, limited retail options, and inconsistent public benefits. For many families, even a small disruption can lead to serious hardship. In 2025, AdkAction responded to two very different moments of need with the same focus: listening closely, acting quickly, and staying connected to the community.

When October’s Federal government shutdown continued into November, nearly 13,000 Adirondack households that depend on Federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) dollars were left waiting for funds stuck in limbo. With food pantries and social service agencies struggling to meet demand, we joined the emergency response effort by repurposing a tool from an existing AdkAction project: Fair Food Cards. These debit-style cards are loaded with funds and used at a network of farm stores, independent groceries, and local producers.

Within days, 100 new AdkAction Emergency Fair Food Cards were loaded with $100 each and distributed to 11 school districts around the Adirondacks. Partnering with schools meant educators and support staff could identify families who could benefit right away, without waiting for applications or paperwork.

For recipients, the cards provided choice, privacy, and stability during a difficult time while keeping money circulating locally and supporting farmers and small businesses. AdkAction is using data from the project to inform future emergency-response projects, ensuring that timely and useful actions can be taken when urgent needs arise in the Adirondacks.

As Emergency Fair Food Cards were distributed, another kind of AdkAction project was addressing food access in one Central Adirondack community. Indian Lake is located far from the bounty of locally grown food available in the Champlain Valley, and with 48% of the students in the school district coming from economically disadvantaged households, many families would be unable to afford the high quality vegetables and meats our region produces.

Working together with Indian Lake’s town and school leaders, AdkAction coordinated a one-time Thanksgiving ‘Farm-to-Family’ delivery to 125 households. Each package included a pasture-raised turkey or local beef roast and a box of fresh seasonal vegetables sourced from local farms. Farmers received full payment for their products and families received packages as a gift, thanks to grant funding secured by AdkAction. Buying directly from producers supported the local economy and ensured high quality.

When AdkAction confronts a problem we design a response drawing from a wide range of tools and strategies we’ve tested in the past. Both the Emergency Fair Food Cards and Farm-to-Family projects relied on long-term relationships and existing systems. In turn, each effort offered valuable lessons in coordination, flexibility, and the importance of local leadership. Those lessons continue to guide our work in the Adirondacks and inform other rural communities seeking sustainable food access solutions.

Short projects like these are just a part of AdkAction’s larger commitment to food access that includes our ongoing Fair Food Card project, seasonal Fair Share CSA, Rural Grocery project, and fiscal sponsorship of the Adirondack Food System Network.

Together, these stories represent more than just food. They highlight trust, timing, and the strength found in working together to build a stronger, more resilient Adirondack region.

This story appeared in AdkAction’s 2025 Annual Report. Read the full report here.