Leadership Oswego County fills backpacks for Sandy Creek schoolchildren

The Leadership Oswego County class of 2016, a program of SUNY Oswego’s Office of Business and Community Relations, recently held an alumni reunion that raised over $1,500 for a backpack program benefitting children and families in the Sandy Creek Central School District.

This year’s Leadership Oswego County class partnered with Sandy Creek United Methodist Church’s backpack program to provide food through monetary donations and hygiene products to families in the school district.

The Sandy Creek Central School District Backpack Program currently feeds 73 children, thanks to 29 backpacks a month. The Leadership Oswego County class of 2016 reached its goal to provide food, as well as hygiene products, to 30 additional families.

According to 2014-15 state Education Department data, 61 percent of students in the district participate in the free or reduced lunch program. Leadership Oswego County believes a difference can be made—with the assistance of corporate partners—through the Sandy Creek United Methodist Church’s backpack program.

This year’s leadership class also is searching for corporate partners to assist with the funding, and/or donation of hygiene items, to sustain the effort during the 2016-17 school year. Those interested in becoming involved as a partner in the LOC Cares project may contact Mariah at msreilly@oswegocounty.com.

Leadership Oswego County prepares a select group of county residents to become future community leaders. They embark on a nine-month course of intensive study of leadership skills, Oswego County and its resources, vital issues of today, and visioning for tomorrow. 

Applications are being accepted for the LOC class of 2017 now. For more information on the program or on becoming an LOC community partner, contact Tammy Elowsky, assistant director of the college’s Office of Business and Community Relations, at 315-312-3084 or visit the Leadership Oswego County site.