Interfaith Human Services Launches 2021 Wishing Well Campaign

Interfaith Human Services has launched its 2021 Wishing Well campaign supporting programs that assist low-income residents of Centre County.

For the second consecutive year, the well is located at the Meyer Dairy store, 2390 S. Atherton St., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day through Dec. 23. Contributions can also be made through the Virtual Well at interfaithhumanservices.org/wishing-well.

“Funds raised during the campaign are used in a variety of Centre County programs whose purposes center around helping people with low income attain or maintain financial stability,” IHS Executive Director Curt Knouse said in a press release.

IHS’s largest program, the Representative Payee Program, manages money for people with mental health or intellectual challenges to help them stay as independent as possible while assuring their basic needs are met.

Over the last year, the agency saw a 16% increase in clients until it reached capacity. With the support of donors, IHS replaced a part-time position with a full-time caseworker to assist with the growth in clients.

“We had no more capacity to protect and enhance the financial situation of this population,” Knouse said. “Interfaith is once again accepting applications on a case-by-case basis for new representative payee clients.”

The IHS Free Used Furniture and Appliance Program also saw a substantial increase in need. In the last year the program collected 3,239 pieces of furniture and household appliances, a 51% increase over the prior year.

Other IHS programs that continue to meet needs for low-income residents include:

• The Centre County Fuel Bank helps avoid heating emergencies from January through March by providing free heating oil, wood, coal and propane to qualified, low-income Centre County residents. It does not cover all the heating costs or pay unpaid heating bills.
• The Basic Needs Financial Assistance program provides help in the face of a financial crisis due to unexpected or unavoidable circumstances. The program provides some assistance to eligible households for rent, security deposits, utility bills between April and November, new prescriptions and gas for out-of-county medical appointments

This year’s Wishing Well campaign has a $40,000 goal. First National Bank and Kissinger Bigatel & Bower Realtors.

“Other gracious support has been given from M&T Bank, Lykens Market, Nittany Property Management, Vigilant Security, John Walizer State Farm, Foxdale Village, Central Insurance Group, Balfurd Cleaners, Penn State Federal Credit Union and members of the IHS Board,” Knouse said.