Ed Dempsey, left, and Rick Preston smile in between distributing Thanksgiving meals at the Lake Placid Thrive & Thrift Food Pantry on Monday, Nov. 24. Over 200 local families in need received meals through this year’s distribution. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

LAKE PLACID — Since its inception in 1985, there have been some changes to the food pantry here. Its location, schedule and even name are among those.

But other things have stayed the same since the very beginning — and that includes Lake Placid’s unwavering commitment to help those who may be in need of a bit of assistance around the holidays.

On Monday, Nov. 24, volunteers with the Lake Placid Thrive & Thrift Food Pantry distributed traditional Thanksgiving meals to about 200 local families — complete with a turkey (or chicken), potatoes, pie and more. Jim Koenig, who is the senior pastor at the Lake Placid Baptist Church, was among the cadre of volunteers.

Whether it was people or organizations who generously gave their time, money or both, Koenig said the Lake Placid looks out for itself.

“I think this is another example of the robust nature of our community and how people take care of those less fortunate,” he said. “This whole place is a celebration of that.”

Jim Koenig, senior pastor at the Lake Placid Baptist Church, oversees the Thanksgiving meal distribution at the Lake Placid Thrive & Thrift Food Pantry on Monday, Nov. 24. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

Koenig was referring specifically to the relatively new Thrive & Thrift Food Pantry, located at 21 Cummings Road next to the Shipman Youth Center. It officially opened on Nov. 16, 2024, merging operations of the former Lake Placid Ecumenical Food Pantry and the Helping Hands Thrift Shop, which closed in late 2023.

“One year ago, we did the turkey giveaway, and that was our first event here in this building,” he said. “It’s great to have this place and to be able to do what we do.”

The food pantry is typically open from 9 a.m. to noon each Friday, though given the holiday schedule this week, it will be closed Nov. 26-28, and will reopen at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29. For the latest schedule updates, visit the pantry’s Facebook page at tinyurl.com/22m9e8f8. Questions can be emailed to lpthriveandthrift@gmail.com.

Carol Falzo, left, and Suzann Fay smile inside the Lake Placid Thrive & Thrift Food Pantry on Monday, Nov. 24. The two volunteers were helping with the food pantry’s annual Thanksgiving meal distribution. Over 200 local families in need received meals this year. (News photo — Chris Gaige)