This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
CENTRE HALL — The Centre Hall/Potter Township Food Pantry celebrated the retirement of two long-time members as well as another two chartered members on Tuesday, June 18.
Located in Grace United Methodist Church at 127 S. Pennsylvania Drive, Centre Hall, the food pantry has been operated entirely by a team of volunteers since the early 1980s. It was established by pastors from four local churches to help meet the needs of the community. The Centre Hall/Potter Township Food Pantry looks to provide food support, refer individuals and families to local resources and enlist other local organizations and individuals to support members of the Centre Hall and Potter Township communities.
At the celebration, members Bonnie Brown, Jean DeMin, Virginia Struble and LeRoy Reitz were honored.
Brown has been with the Centre Hall/Potter Township Food Pantry for around two decades, overseeing day-to-day operations as the food procurement coordinator since 2004. Brown played a major role in the growth of the program and is now retiring.
Under Brown, the food pantry was able to go from providing 30-60 items of food per family each month to supplying as much as eight boxes of food for larger families. Additionally, Brown’s own home has been the drop-off location for the local Boy Scout Food Drive collections since 2005. During the pandemic, Brown was able to work with the board of directors to find solutions to keep the food pantry operational.
“She put in countless miles, picking up food orders from various grocery stores and things, delivering them back here to the food pantry every month. She regularly sought out new funding possibilities and ways to make those funds work harder for the food pantry clients,” Beth Powell, Centre Hall/Potter Township Food Pantry assistant secretary, remarked. “The board of directors and the volunteers of the food pantry wish to extend our tremendous thanks and appreciation for all she has done for the community through the food pantry as she retires from this position after 20 years of dedication.”
DeMin, who will retire at the end of the fiscal year in August, has been serving as the food pantry’s treasurer since 2001. DeMin’s bookkeeping skills have been pivotal in keeping the finances of the food pantry in order. The Food Pantry has benefited from her unrelenting dedication to the cause over 23 years of service.
“Her meticulous bookkeeping has kept the food pantry coming along with confidence in the funds on hand,” Powell noted. “The board of directors and the volunteers at the food pantry extend our deep gratitude and appreciation for Jean’s 23 years of faithful service.”
Additionally, the Centre Hall/Potter Township Food Pantry recognized two charter members who have been with the organization for decades at the celebration on Tuesday, June 18. Both Struble and Reitz have been fundamental in serving the food pantry since its inception and have been able to witness its growth over the last 40 years.
The Centre Hall/Potter Township Food Pantry is a community-run organization. Although it runs out of Grace United Methodist Church, anyone interested in volunteering is welcome. The organization does its monthly food distributions on the third Tuesday of each month — except in August, when it takes place on the second Tuesday.
The orders are put together by volunteers during a morning session, while distribution time takes place in the afternoon from 1:30 to 3 p.m., when boxes are moved from the downstairs area into the cars of clients.
Residents of Centre Hall or Potter Township who feel they may qualify for the distributions, and those interested in volunteering with the food pantry should email the organization at gracechpfp@gmail.com.
