KING FERRY, NY (607NewsNow) – A Cayuga County food pantry is getting a boost from philanthropists with a personal, local tie.

A $25,000 gift from Doug and Andrea Lippincott, of Canandaigua, has established the Pauline and Stacey Lippincott Endowment Fund for the King Ferry Food Pantry.

Doug, a King Ferry native and the son of Pauline and Stacey, calls it a fitting tribute to his parents and their “enduring spirit of community service.”

“My parents grew up during the Great Depression and understood the challenges of food insecurity and were keenly aware those threats exist today in their own community,” Doug said. “The mission of the King Ferry Food Pantry is ‘to provide access to healthy food and resources for neighbors in need.’ That mission fits perfectly with mom and dad’s lifetime mission of service above self.”

Pauline and Stacey were high school sweethearts who shared 79 years of marriage. Pauline passed away in 2023 at 98, followed by Stacey in 2024 at 99.

Pauline, who operated Pauline’s Beauty Shop in King Ferry for 25 years, is remembered as a consummate community activist. She donated her time to the King Ferry PTA, Our Lady of the Lake Church, King Ferry Historical Association, and other local groups. She was a founding volunteer of the King Ferry Pantry when it opened in 1996.

“The pantry was near and dear to her heart,” Doug said.

Stacey was a World War II veteran, a 1950 Ithaca College grad, a Little League coach and umpire, and a big supporter of Pauline’s work in the community. He retired from NCR in Ithaca in 1984.

kingferryfoodpantry.org

The Central New York Community Foundation is managing the endowment, which will help support the pantry in perpetuity.

“The Pauline and Stacey Lippincott Endowment fund will provide stability through annual distributions while preserving and growing the principal over time,” said King Ferry Food Pantry Executive Director Debbie Patrick. “Annual distributions will provide perpetual funding for the pantry’s operations and programs, ensuring that we will continue to serve our neighbors in need well into the future.”

In 2024, the pantry served 160,230 meals to 7,630 people, including 2,645 children and 735 elderly adults.

Honoring the Lippincott’s legacy is important to Doug but so is giving back to his hometown.

“King Ferry and southern Cayuga County are special to me,” he said. “My parents were great role models, but I also reaped many benefits from the guidance and support of the good folks of King Ferry and surrounding communities.”

The sentiment was echoed by King Ferry Pantry Board of Directors President, Jim Burkett, who says the endowment shows how deeply the community believes in the work of the pantry. He adds they’re grateful to Doug and Andrea, and every donor who helps care for neighbors in need.

“Mom and dad made the most of their longevity, living full and caring lives,” said Doug. “Andrea and I hope this gift will inspire others to support the remarkable work of the pantry and ensure its longevity.”

Find out how you can get involved here.