York Central School’s food pantry is an invaluable resource to many families in the community. Located in the school and managed by school workers who know the students and families, the Knights Bites Food Pantry is on the front lines of the battle to address food insecurity.
Last week Foodlink recognized the organizer of the YCS pantry, Mr. Dominic Chirico, with their 2025 Outstanding Service Award. The award was presented at the annual Nourish Conference sponsored by Foodlink and Wegmans to thank the hundreds of people who work tirelessly to provide nutritious food to those in need. Over 500 people attended the conference and only two awards were presented: Mr. Chirico and Anne Rowley from Irondequoit.
Shannon Brown, Program Director with Finger Lakes Community Action said this about Mr. Chirico at the award presentation:
“I am honored to introduce a warrior in the ongoing fight to provide comfort, compassion and dignity to those in need. For the past three years, this gentleman has single-handedly acquired valuable resources for the York Central School District. Some of the resources include refrigerators, freezers, shelving, and food. On his own time and with his own vehicle, he makes the pantry viable. He shops and facilitates huge fund-raising events including the Annual Basketball Tournament between the York Central School District and the Livingston County Sherriff's Office. YCSD is known as the York Knights, and they certainly have their own Knight in shining armor.”
Mr. Chirico is a school-based prevention and intervention counselor with the Center for Youth. In addition to his vital role supporting students, Mr. Chirico and York Middle-High School Counselor Mrs. Julie Gilman, established the Knights Bites Food Pantry, which has been extremely successful at alleviating food insecurity in the community.
According to Foodlink data, the demand for food assistance is far greater than the supply, with numbers fast approaching record levels of people experiencing food shortages.
York Central School is grateful for Mr. Chirico’s dedication to our school and community and we congratulate him on receiving this well-deserved recognition.
Would you like to know how you can support the Knights Bites Food Pantry? Donations are greatly appreciated anytime, and on Friday, May 16 we invite you to come out for a fun night of basketball as the York CSD alumni and Livingston County Sheriff’s Department battle for the trophy! Admission is $3 for adults; $1 for students, and there will be games and basket giveaways with all proceeds going to the Knights Bites Food Pantry.