“We’ve had people who have just cried when they came in. They’ve said, ‘You don’t know how much this food means–how much this helps us.’”

In 2014, Patricia recalls when a fellow congregation member at the Newberry Church of Christ approached her about turning the church into a food distribution site for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. The member, who worked for the nonprofit, realized the high need in the area and thought the compassionate Patricia (a retired pharmacy technician) would be the perfect person for the job.

“Seven years later, here we are,” Patricia says, smiling as she looks at her small army of fellow volunteers.

During this time, Patricia and the other volunteers have made it their goal to put nutritious food on the tables of as many neighbors in need as they can. While this mission is important all year around, it is especially meaningful around the holidays.

“Usually at Thanksgiving we give away turkeys,” Patricia explains. “Everybody that comes through gets a turkey and lots of things to go with it. One year on the day after that distribution, Johnny (our preacher) saw a man standing in front of our church, looking at the building. Johnny came over to him and said, ‘May I help you?’ And the man said, ‘I was here yesterday and got a turkey, and I just wanted to thank somebody.’”

Food shouldn’t be an impossible choice. For many of us, a daily meal is just a choice about what to eat for dinner. For those facing hunger, a daily meal poses a very different type of choice. It is often an impossible choice between food and other critical needs such as utilities, housing or medicine. Choose to end hunger this holiday season.

How can you lend a helping hand this holiday season?

  • Support our efforts by donating today.
  • Host your own Virtual Food Drive and help many more of your neighbors in need by raising funds for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Every dollar counts!
  • Give the gift of time by volunteering. Volunteerism is critical to the core mission of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and our partner agencies.