Drive-thru food distribution sites expand to fill increased need across Centre County
Cars lined up hours in advance on Wednesday to wait for free groceries from a new drive-thru food distribution site at Calvary Church.
The line at the church, located at 150 Harvest Fields Drive, started forming in the early afternoon for a food distribution available to all. It’s one of the latest efforts to help feed Centre County families struggling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We know that lots of people are struggling right now because of loss of income, and we’ve gotten requests for food,” Calvary Church Community Impact Director Kendra Gettig said in a statement. “We thought this would be a good way to help folks.”
Participants received dried goods, eggs, fruits, vegetables and meats. Jim and Sheryl Leaman of CommonFood, a nonprofit that feeds central Pennsylvania families, received 400 boxes of food as part of a crisis grant from the United States Department of Agriculture.
Jim Leaman said about six local churches collaborated to see who needed food and said they hope to continue the drive-thru operation in two weeks.
Matt Patterson, franchise owner of Jersey Mike’s Subs, donated gift cards and 300 subs to Wednesday’s operation.
In the past weeks, the YMCA Food Program has seen growth in the number of kids who receive daily meals from its 32 feeding sites, Moshannon Valley YMCA Executive Director Mel Curtis said in an email.
A soup drive-thru for seniors and veterans opened Wednesday at the Moshannon Valley YMCA in Philipsburg, feeding over 100 people. The State College branch will open a similar site Thursday. Snap Custom Pizza, Chick-fil-A, Panera Bread, Jersey Mike’s, Sowers Harvest Cafe and Texas Roadhouse have partnered with the YMCA and donated meals as part of the program.
Curtis said the YMCA plans to add two food giveaway sites in Wingate and Snow Shoe.
The Snow Shoe location will be based in the Hall’s Market parking lot. The store closed after a fire in February, and Curtis said residents are without a stable place to purchase goods and groceries.
“People are having to drive a distance just to get the foods they need,” Curtis said. “There is a large population that are seniors, and there are people who have no transportation, so we need to step in and help these people out.”
The YMCA of Centre County Backpack Program will update its Facebook page as more food distribution sites are organized.
-Abby Drey contributed to this report
