This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
For Mel Curtis, helping veterans isn’t just a mission; it’s a responsibility. That sense of duty is what led the YMCA of Centre County, in partnership with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, to launch the MilitaryShare program earlier this year.
“We started it in January,” Curtis, the Centre County Y’s director of anti-hunger programs, said. “I think it’s only right that we give back to those who took time out of their life to serve the country.”
Since then, the food distribution program has quickly grown. In August alone, MilitaryShare provided food to 148 families, impacting 326 individuals. More than 200 families are currently registered, with distributions held the second Monday of each month.
Veterans and their families drive through the UEC Theater parking lot on Premiere Drive in College Township, where volunteers load boxes of food directly into trunks. Each distribution includes staples like milk, eggs, meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, along with shelf-stable items such as soups and canned goods.
“They’re getting a nice volume of food,” Curtis said. “And we usually pack a second box from our warehouse with more shelf-stable items. No one should be in a situation where they’ve got to worry about where their next meal is coming from.”
Volunteers — many of whom are veterans themselves — help distribute food, creating an environment Curtis describes as more a community event.
“This is a hand up, not handout,” he said. “We have Penn State Health come in with their mobile unit so veterans can get blood pressure checks or talk to a doctor. We try to add as much as we can so it feels like an event. Veterans are proud people, and this is a chance for them to connect with others who served.”
Still, challenges remain. The YMCA must pay for all the food it receives from the food bank, and state budget delays threaten funding for meats and proteins. Curtis said community partnerships are critical to keeping the program alive.
“Funding is tight. We rely on organizations and service clubs to help us out financially because this program can’t stop,” he said.
Looking ahead, Curtis hopes to expand MilitaryShare by adding personal hygiene products routinely and even connecting veterans to Rustic Ridge Farm, a YMCA-owned property near Philipsburg where community gardening projects could take root.
“If we could get hygiene products or get veterans involved with the farm, that would be huge,” Curtis said. “One person or one organization can’t do everything. But when multiple groups come together, that’s when we can really make a difference.”
For veterans and their families, signing up is simple. Applications are available through Curtis directly at the YMCA, by email at mcurtis@mcaocc.org, by calling Curtis directly at (814) 801-0111 or through the county Veterans Affairs office in Bellefonte. Proof of service such as a DD214, VA card or military ID is all that’s required. Surviving spouses and active-duty families are also eligible.
Curtis emphasized one point above all: the program exists to honor service, not to take away resources from others.
“A lot of veterans will say, ‘Give it to someone who needs it,’” Curtis said. “But this program does not take away from our other programs. Veterans put their lives on hold to serve their country. This is the least we can do for them.”
