YMCA works to combat rising food insecurity amid inflation

On the first and third Thursday every month, cars line up in the alley behind Howard United Methodist Church. Drivers sit patiently as the line stretches down the alley and across the side streets, blocking traffic.

Some have been waiting for hours, some have driven from across the county. They’re all waiting on large food distributions provided by the YMCA’s anti-hunger program.

As cars roll by the church’s entrance, volunteers load boxes filled with apples, bananas, frozen chicken, cabbages and more.

For some, it brings the opportunity to have fresh produce they might have to bypass at the grocery store.

“It’s a godsend,” one woman, who asked not to be identified, said. “I’m on a fixed income, so I wouldn’t buy stuff like this.”

At the start of the line, Patti Long takes down information from the drivers, jotting down their names, how many are in their family, and how many families per car. Long and her team of volunteers have the distribution down to a science, with an assembly line of boxes stretching from the loading dock into the church on long foldout tables.

Despite the line, it only takes them about an hour and a half to finish. Some cars are full of familiar faces, but there are newcomers every time.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if there are 20 to 25 new families tonight,” Long said Thursday. “That’s the way it’s sort of been running. We had been originally around 100 families, now we’re up to like 160.”

Long said 160 families amount to around 400 people. Mel Curtis, director of the YMCA’s anti-hunger programs, said the number is continuing to grow as food banks across the country see greater demand.

“A lot of those are working families,” Curtis said. “These are people that are struggling, but one or two of the parents are working but because inflation has just driven everything right through the roof, they can’t afford it.”

The large food distribution program is a non-income based program, meaning families don’t have to meet certain income requirements or fill out declaration forms to pick up the food. The program runs on donations from organizations and businesses that donate semi trucks full of food for the YMCA to distribute; that’s unlike the Fresh Express program, which is income based and federally funded.

In May, the YMCA provided food to 7,406 individuals throughout the county, Curtis said. But calls for more assistance keep coming in.

“For the month of July, we have increased to three distributions in Philipsburg,” Curtis said. “Now when I say that there’s people coming from all over the place, they’re just not coming from Philipsburg, they’ll drive up from Port Matilda and all over the place.”

Curtis worries demand will only increase once fall starts and families have to contend with heating bills.

“There’s a lot of indecision,” Curtis said. “It’s sort of like ‘do I feed my kids or do I get my medicine? Do I feed my kids or make sure the house is warm?’ It’s tough for a parent.”

The YMCA is continuing to expand its anti-hunger programs including opening Morgan Run farm in Clearfield County. The farm will serve a dual purpose, educating children about agriculture and providing fresh produce for the community.

Large food distributions occur around the county every month. More information can be found on the YMCA’s anti-hunger program website.

• Philipsburg - 2nd and 4th Saturday, 10 a.m., 141 Enterprise Drive
• Howard - 1st Thursday and 3rd Friday, 5 p.m., Howard United Methodist Church
• Halfmoon - 1st and 3rd Monday, 4 p.m., Halfmoon Christian Fellowship Church
• Morrisdale - 3rd Saturday, 10 a.m., Palestine Church
• Clearfield - 2nd and 4th Monday, 1 p.m., Bigler YMCA

Fresh Express distributions are based on income and require individuals or families to fill out declaration forms.

• Snow Shoe - 1st and 3rd Thursday, noon, township building
• Centre Hall - 1st Wednesday, Progress Grange
• Philipsburg - 1st and 3rd Thursday, times TBA, Chester Hill Fire Company
• Houtzdale - 1st and 3rd Thursday, 4 p.m., DiamondBack Family Center, St. Barbara’s Church
• Wingate - 2nd and 4th Thursday, 4 p.m., Bald Eagle Valley UMC