What are solutions to food insecurity? Local officials discuss collaboration, needs

Elected officials and community action groups from Centre and Clearfield counties joined together Friday to discuss an issue that affects each area: food insecurity.

Directors from the YMCA, Central PA Food Bank, State College Food Bank and other community action groups met at the CenClear facility in Philipsburg to discuss possibilities to collaborate and expand their programs.

The all-day summit was hosted by the Centre County’s YMCA Anti-Hunger program and its director Mel Curtis, who said the goal of the summit was to help other local agencies “streamline programming.” Curtis hopes the agencies will be able to collaborate and build stronger communities.

According to the YMCA, 8.9% of individuals in Centre County and 12.8% of individuals in Clearfield County are food insecure.

During the summit, local food bank directors and community action groups shared information on community needs, what programs worked and programs they hoped to implement, including a possible Facebook group that could help agencies spread any excess products they receive.

State Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township, and U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Howard, also spoke during the summit about their roles as policymakers and their commitments to local anti-hunger programs. Thompson spoke of his role as chairman of the congressional agriculture committee and his belief that public and private partnerships could help food banks with problems like distribution and transportation.

Penn State Department of Medicine was also present at the summit with its mobile clinic to showcase its work in rural communities that lack access to medical care. Penn State students provided a poster on local hunger statistics and handed out fliers on hunger and nutrition.

The key to helping food insecurity is “donate, participate, advocate,” Ryan Prater of Central Pennsylvania Food Bank said. Prater encouraged people to donate money so food banks can buy in bulk and to write letters to local politicians to encourage policy changes.

Attendees discussed possible policy changes that could lower barriers, as many food banks require people to meet federal income guidelines or be recommended by another agency. Curtis spoke about families barely over the income requirements who were unable to use food banks or other poverty assistance programs that have income limits.

Although the current programs are vital to the community, attendees said passion and community support are necessary to grow and expand them.

“Without advocacy we’re dead in the water, without passion we’re even deader,” Curtis said.