The mission of the Cooperstown Food Pantry is to address issues
of poverty and hunger in Otsego County.
The Cooperstown Food Pantry provides an important safety net for area families forced to choose between paying for utilities, medicine, gasoline, or food. We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, and all contributions made to Cooperstown Food Pantry are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law.
In 1977, Ellen St. John of Cooperstown started the Cooperstown Food Pantry, then known as the Cooperstown Food Bank, in a closet at the Village Library. In 1992, the First Presbyterian Church provided space, which included the entire basement of the Church House. In 2014, the Pantry moved to a newly-renovated first floor location in the same building. The name “Food Pantry” is a more recent designation for membership in Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest), a network of over 250 regional food banks serving all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The Cooperstown Food Pantry is a member agency of The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, located in Latham.
Founding Director, Ellen St. John
After 36 years, the Cooperstown Food Pantry’s founding Director, Ellen St. John, retired in May of 2013. Her strong leadership, gentle wisdom, and compassion for others is what makes the Pantry such an important part of the Cooperstown community. Her vision, influence, and enthusiastic helping hands continue to inspire members of this organization.
Executive Director
In 2017, after 40 years of volunteer executive staff, the Cooperstown Food Pantry Board of Directors made the decision to hire a full-time Executive Director to undertake responsibilities for day-to-day operations.
Valerie Jackson joined the Cooperstown Food Pantry as Executive Director in May 2026. In her previous position as Nutrition Outreach and Education Program Coordinator at Catholic Charities in Oneonta, she assisted food-insecure families with SNAP benefits and connected them with local food pantries and social service referrals.
“I welcome the opportunity to help direct the Cooperstown Food Pantry in addressing poverty and hunger in the region and to continue to grow as a model organization for community food security,” said Jackson.
Board of Directors
The Cooperstown Food Pantry is governed by a dedicated, dynamic Board of Directors who provide oversight and set goals to support the mission of the organization.
| Carol Beechy | Rose Craine – Treasurer |
| Andrew Demma – Vice President, Fund Development | Maryann Dietz |
| Cathy Fasanelli – Secretary | Kathleen Gozigian |
| Carolyn Lewis | Angus Mackie |
| Karen Mihan | Eric Mooney |
| Audrey Murray – Inventory and Ordering | Maureen Murray |
| Sharon Oberriter – President | Peg Odell |
| John Rudy | Stacey Smith |
| William Waller – Audit and Finance |
Interested in serving on the Cooperstown Food Pantry Board of Directors as a board member or non-voting committee member? Please call the Pantry at (607) 547-8902 to leave a message for our President.
Our Partners
Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York
Hunger Coalition of Otsego County