Foothills Rural Community Ministry

Foothills Rural Community Ministry Our mission is to respond, with care and concern, to local families by providing food and assistance to those in need. Other churches, including St.
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Foothills Rural Community Ministry began with a biblical vision, and a desire for churches to take action. The biblical vision came from Old Testament prophets' and Liberation Theology's insistence that there was a Biblical mandate to care for the poor. John Preston, pastor of the Holland Patent Presbyterian Church at the time and later the Executive Director of Foothills, had preached this from t

he pulpit and a response came from some parishioners who discovered some very poor families in our community who needed help. In the beginning they simply took groceries to these families. This led to inviting various “experts” in to discuss our rural situation with some church folks from several local congregations. Probably the best expert was one of the mothers we had helped, who had the courage to come in and tell us her story of poverty. In 1985 five local congregations organized what was called Foothills Churches United for Action. They were the Presbyterian Churches of Holland Patent and South Trenton, the United Methodist Churches of Floyd and Stittville, and the Unitarian Church of Barneveld. Leo’s Roman Catholic and St. David’s Episcopal would soon join us. We considered several outreach projects including a latchkey program, but finally settled on an information and referral service, so that we could connect families in need and social services that were available. We hired a part time coordinator. Larger seed money grants were secured from several denominations, and the local congregations each agreed to contribute $300 a year. The decade of the 1990’s was one in which programs and volunteers were added. The first major addition was a Food Pantry. We inherited the Christmas Basket program from Christians Anonymous at St. Leo’s when Debby Stark left the area. The Thrift Shop, a long time venture of the women of St. Leo’s and the Presbyterian Church, was assimilated into our structure when Alma Steinbacher retired. In 1992, after consultations with Carl Geores, who is famous for developing Mission at the Eastword in Maine, we changed to our present organizational name and were incorporated as a secular non-profit organization. About this time we included the Park Coffee House, which had begun in 1984, under our organizational umbrella. This allowed the Coffee House a larger volunteer base and provided the overall organization another source of ongoing income from ticket sales and from the food concession. In 2004 a Sharing Neighbors initiative led to a collaboration with the Trenton Farmers’ Market. We provide Pantry customers with coupons toward the purchase of fresh, local food and also provide the means for customers to use their food stamp benefits at the market. About the same time Central New York Food Bank encouraged us to begin a Community Garden with their support. Two other recent programs are the Food $ense program started in the fall of 2008 through the Food Bank of Central New York, and the Backpack Project, which donates backpacks and school supplies to the Holland Patent and Remsen schools. To this day our major outreach programs remain the same: The Food Pantry, Thrift Shop, Christmas Baskets, and Park Coffee House. During the intake process for the Food Pantry our volunteers have an opportunity to provide information and to make necessary referrals for our Food Pantry clients. The support from this community has been tremendous. We have many volunteers in each of our programs. We are supported by financial donations from individuals, churches, townships, and many other community organizations. We have strong leadership from our Directors and the Council. Together, we can take pride in what we accomplish.

05/18/2026

Announcement:

The food pantry will be closed on Saturday, May 23rd.

We will reopen on Thursday, May 28th.

05/04/2026

Volunteer Recruitment Night

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities, please join us on Monday, May 11th from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at the Twin Churches.

Please contact (315) 865-5854 if you plan to attend.

05/04/2026

2026 Food Pantry Qualifications

Local residents of Holland Patent, Remsen School District, and surrounding areas.

Household Size — Annual Income

1 person — $35,910
2 people — $48,690
3 people — $61,470
4 people — $74,250
5 people — $87,030
6 people — $99,810
7 people — $112,590
8 people — $125,370
*For each additional person — $12,780*

For questions, please call (315) 865-5854.

05/04/2026

May 2026 Food & Pet Pantry Hours

Wednesday, May 6th - 3 PM to 5:30 PM
*by appointment only*

Saturday, May 9th - 9 AM to 1 PM

Saturday, May 16th - 9 AM to 1 PM

Saturday, May 23rd - 9 AM - 11:30 AM

Thursday, May 28th - 10 AM to 11:30 AM

**We stop taking customers 15 minutes before closing**

Please join us at Park Coffee House on Saturday, May 9th to enjoy music by the Jamcrackers. Doors open at 7 PM. Performa...
05/04/2026

Please join us at Park Coffee House on Saturday, May 9th to enjoy music by the Jamcrackers.

Doors open at 7 PM. Performance at 7:30 PM.

General admission is $15 for adults, $5 for students, and no charge for children 12 and younger.

We look forward to seeing you!

Jamcrackers, the trio of Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn, and Dan Duggan, returns to Park Coffee House in Holland Patent on Saturday, May 9. The doors open at 7:00 PM for the 7:30 PM performance.
These seasoned musicians and good friends named their group to honor the rivers drivers of the past, who used persistence and hard work to find solutions. Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn, and Dan Duggan feel the same way about their music. With their combined talents, they deliver a signature blend of humor, history, and musical spirit to their performances.
Dan Berggren’s roots are firmly in the Adirondacks. He grew up on land farmed by his mother’s family for generations, and he worked with ranger and survey crews. From the stories and songs he heard from local friends and neighbors, Dan developed a style that captures the spirit of the mountains. This award winning singer-songwriter and educator has entertained audiences widely in this country and internationally.
Peggy Lynn writes and performs songs about women and the beauty of the North Country. Her bluesy alto voice melts every audience. This educator and singer-songwriter brings an infectious enthusiasm, and gives a clear message of the passion underlying her songs. Peggy draws inspiration from teaching, mentoring, performing, listening, and collaborating.
Dan Duggan, nationally touring performer and teacher, is a master dulcimer player and composer. He is the first winner of the National Hammered Dulcimer Championship to have performed all original compositions. Dan’s repertoire includes pioneering, innovative compositions and renditions of traditional Irish and American tunes. Through his blending of instrumentation with creative musical format, Dan engages audiences in an excursion of musical styles and moods.
Jamcrackers’ music celebrates the Adirondacks and includes traditional styles. Their mix of folk, ballads, and dance tunes sparks a rare chemistry that is genuine and contagious.
General admission to this concert is $15.00, $5.00 for students, and no charge for children 12 and younger.
Homemade desserts and the usual coffee house beverages will be available for a donation before the show and during the intermission. The proceeds benefit the local food pantry.
On May 23, Cincinnati Creek will perform at Park Coffee House, and the season finale is a Local Favorites Fundraiser on June 6.
Park Coffee House is located in the village of Holland Patent, at the Twin Churches, on the corner of Main Street (NYS Route 365) and Church Street, across from the park.

April 2026 Food and Pet Pantry hours are posted.
04/01/2026

April 2026 Food and Pet Pantry hours are posted.

Join us at Park Coffee House for a concert this Saturday night, March 28th. Doors open at 7 PM. Performance by the Rebec...
03/26/2026

Join us at Park Coffee House for a concert this Saturday night, March 28th. Doors open at 7 PM. Performance by the Rebecca Miner Band starting at 7:30 PM. $15 admission.

03/06/2026

Foothills is holding a volunteer recruitment meeting from 6 PM to 7 PM on Monday, March 9th. If you are interested in volunteer opportunities, please join us at the First Presbyterian Church on Church St in Holland Patent.

We welcome all who are interested and we look forward to meeting you.

01/22/2026

The food pantry will be open on Thursday, January 29th from 10 AM to noon.

12/25/2025

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Have a safe and happy New Year!

12/10/2025

Unfortunately, due to the weather, the food pantry will not be open today, Wednesday, December 10th.

Be safe if traveling and stay warm!

Thank you for your understanding.

Address

7835 Church Street, PO BOx 156
Holland Patent, NY
13354

Opening Hours

9am - 1pm

Telephone

+13158655854

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