It’s going to be a busy few weeks for the employees and volunteers at the eight food pantries in Centre County.
Robin Knepp, Centre County supervisor of family services at Central Pennsylvania Community Action, said all eight county locations are geared up and packages are being made for thousands of families.
‘It’s time for the Christmas program and it looks like we’re all ready to go,’ said Knepp, who oversees the eight food pantries. ‘I haven’t heard from anyone that they are in need of anything, so I’m confident we’re ready for the holiday season.’
CPCA employees and volunteers will be busy over the next several weeks packaging Christmas baskets for families. Each basket will contain a turkey, ham or meat voucher, as well as all the sides and trimmings for a traditional holiday meal.
‘We have a lot of food to prepare over the next few weeks, and we’re still accepting donations,’ said Knepp. ‘We just ask that you keep in mind when donating what you’d like to see on your holiday dinner table. Those are the kinds of items we’re seeking.’
According to Knepp, more than 3,000 individuals are served at the local food pantries every month. The requirement is a family must be at 150 percent or below the state and federal poverty guidelines. That said, she explained that more working families are receiving assistance than ever before.
‘We want to get rid of the stigma that this food is going to people who just don’t work, or who are just looking for a free hand out,’ said Knepp. ‘… It’s not like that anymore. I’d say more families we see are working families that have paychecks that just don’t stretch to the end of the month. Sometimes, a visit to us for food may allow that family to use that money to pay a bill or make a home repair. We’re here to help everyone.’
Knepp said many people working two part-time jobs are eligible to receive the assistance.
‘It’s not a bad thing to offer what we provide. The more people realize that, the more we can knock down that stigma and help families live a better lifestyle.’
Knepp said the food pantries collect more donations during holiday time than they do the entire rest of the year. That leaves some empty shelves when the warmer months arrive.
‘We’re here all year round and we need more people to realize that,’ she said. ‘We are so very fortunate to have wonderful residents, churches, schools and other organizations that help us out during the holidays. However, after the hustle and bustle is over, and the new year starts to move on, our supplies begin to deplete and the donations wear thin.’
DONATIONS WELCOME ALL YEAR
Knepp said donations are welcome all year. Donations of non-perishable foods of any kind are appreciated. However, she noted that some items she refers to as ‘staples’ aren’t necessarily seen that way by the food pantries’ main funding source.
‘The federal government won’t allow us to spend money on ‘non-essentials,’ much of which are condiments,’ said Knepp. ‘We can’t buy things like ketchup or mustard or even coffee with federal money.’
She explained local monetary donations are important to make such purchases, and in special cases, used for holiday meals.
‘Right now, monetary donations will be going toward purchasing meat vouchers for our holiday baskets,’ said Knepp. ‘We’re distributing Thanksgiving baskets for the first time this year in Philipsburg, and we’re still going to need some help filling the meat vouchers for the Christmas baskets, so donations would be greatly appreciated.”
In addition, food pantries in Centre County will again be distributors of the popular Toys for Tots program.
Food pantries are open weekly in Centre County, and each pantry has its own distribution days and times. Donations to the individual pantries also are accepted and encouraged.
Local food pantries in Centre County and the days and times of distribution include:
■ Aaronsburg Family Service Center, 337 E. Aaron Square, Aaronsburg, (814) 349-5850; distribution is every Tuesday by appointment from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
■ Bellefonte Food Pantry at the Faith Center, 131 S. Allegheny St., Bellefonte, (814) 355-4400; distribution is Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon noon, Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursday from 1 to 6:30 p.m.
■ Centre Hall/Potter Township Food and Fuel, Grace United Methodist Church, 127 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Centre Hall, (814) 364-1541; distribution is the third Tuesday of each month from 12:30 to 4 p.m.
■ Howard Area Lions Food Pantry, 44 Vesper St., Blanchard (570) 962-2407; distribution is the first and third Monday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m.
■ Philipsburg Family Service Center, 14 S. Front St., Philipsburg, (814) 342-0404; Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
■ Snow Shoe/Mountain Top Food Pantry, Snow Shoe United Methodist Church, Moshannon Avenue, Snow Shoe, (814) 384-6230; distribution is the second Thursday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m.
■ State College Area Food Pantry,1321 S. Atherton St., State College, (814) 234-2310, www.scfoodbank.org; distribution is every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon
■ In case of emergency, Centre House, 217 E. Nittany Ave., State College, (814) 237-4863
CPCA is the lead agency for the eight food pantries in Centre County and 10 in Clearfield County, providing oversight for State Food Purchase Program dollars and The Emergency Food Assistance Program funding. The food pantry services provide emergency and supplemental food and food stamp application assistance.
For more information, contact Central Pennsylvania Community Action at 207 E. Cherry St., Clearfield, PA 16830 or call (814) 765-1551 or (800) 822-2610 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
