How Centre County businesses, communities are stepping up to fight food insecurity

Food insecurity remains a significant issue in Centre County and beyond. And, while local food banks have stepped up to fill a lot of the need, local businesses and community pantries are also helping with programs of their own.

Some restaurants are providing free meals to those in need, while some communities and businesses have organized small pantries for their neighbors. Those efforts aren’t meant to replace food banks, but are meant to provide extra help when needed.

And extra help is needed more than ever with an increased strain on local food banks, due to increased demand resulting from the rising price of groceries and the delayed assistance from government programs. Although the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) resumed nationwide Nov. 13, that impact is still being felt.

Concern that millions of U.S. citizens could be kicked off the program in the near future, coupled with side effects from tariffs and immigration labor shortages, have only added to food-related stress.

Centre County is not immune to those national trends, but a number of local businesses and organizations are trying to help. Here are a few that have made a difference.

The Paltry Pantry

Located at 229 Hickory St. in Philipsburg is the Paltry Pantry, a small-but-free pantry that’s open 24/7 and has been serving people in the Moshannon Valley region for just over two years. The pantry operates on a donation basis, with locals in the area — along with owner Danielle Ferguson and her husband — contributing to it year-round.

This year, to help combat increased food insecurity, the pantry offered a special service for Thanksgiving in the form of “blessing bags,” with each coming with almost all the necessities a family may need for a Thanksgiving meal.

Included in the bags were prepackaged potatoes and vegetables, evaporated milk, turkey gravy, chicken broth, stuffing, mac and cheese, cake mix, canned pumpkin, cream cheese frosting and a gift card to pay for a turkey.

“This is the first year we have done something to this scale,” Ferguson wrote to the CDT in an email. “As a result of the SNAP issues, we wanted to have a more positive stance on helping this year and do more for our community. My husband and I both agreed to use our own money to purchase the food and supplies.”

People who were looking to obtain a blessing bag could do so by requesting one through a Google Sheet form on the pantry’s Facebook page, or by messaging the Facebook page with a nomination. In total, 20 blessing bags were sent out by the organization

According to Ferguson, the drive to help others comes from her and her husband’s own personal experiences.

“Neither my husband nor I grew up in wealthy households — we watched our parents work extremely hard to get ahead and stay afloat,” Ferguson wrote. “There are so many working families who are struggling to make ends meet, put food on the table, provide for their children and pay ever-increasing rent and utilities. If I can operate a small roadside stand and know there are children not going hungry, it’s all worth it to me.”

While it has yet to be determined if Ferguson will be offering blessing bags for other holidays, or future Thanksgivings, the pantry will still be open year-round and is accepting donations of food, pet food, formula, hygiene items, soaps and cleaners.

Little Mamma’s Pizza

Located in the Titan Market at 2042 Axemann Road near Bellefonte, Little Mamma’s Pizza is offering a pay-it-forward wall and mini pantry to help ease the stressors created by the SNAP benefits pause.

The wall operates similarly to many other pay-it-forward programs. Those looking to donate a meal can do so for a flat fee of $6, with the receipt for that meal being stuck to the wall. Those looking to cash in one of the meals can do so by taking a receipt from the board with their preferred dish, giving it to the cashier and receiving their meal, free of charge.

Additionally, a small food pantry has been added near the wall so that customers who may need to grab an ingredient for something, or a food item or two in general, can do so discretely.

“I’d say that we got the idea for [the wall and pantry] from the summer meals program that we started a couple of years ago for the youth in the area,” owner Lucio Perez said. “With everything going on nationwide, we just felt that we could continue doing what we do best — feeding the community in different ways that are affordable and obtainable for our community members. “

Perez added that the pizzeria’s recent move from 105 S. Main St. in Pleasant Gap to Titan Market has allowed for the business to better help families in the community. He called the market a “really good hub” for community outreach, with several of its other vendors contributing to the pantry.

While SNAP benefit delays and increased grocery costs are certainly large reasons why Perez started the wall and pantry, his upbringing also helped shape the decision.

“I’m a big champion of the phrase ‘it takes a village’ because it’s such a true saying — it takes individuals that care for one another, and food security is one of the big issues that resonates so closely with me,” Perez said. “Growing up myself, I relied on some of these services, so I know what it’s like, and I want to make sure that I take the opportunity to give back to the community that helped get me to where I am right now.”

It’s Perez’s hope that the pantry and wall will be open for as long as possible. And, while he will happily accept customer donations to the pantry, he urged those looking to donate food to do so at the food banks in their respective areas.

Webster’s Bookstore & Café

Every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Webster’s Bookstore and Café — located at 133 E. Beaver Ave. in downtown State College — operates a pay-as-you-can, vegan and gluten-free community meal program for customers. It has only grown in importance since the initial pausing of SNAP benefits.

Those looking to pick up a meal can do so by visiting Webster’s during the specified hours and paying up to $14 for one — but owner Elaine Meder-Wilgus told the CDT that those who can’t afford the full price are welcome to pay what they can, even if that means paying nothing at all.

“Someone’s worth is not in their checkbook — it’s in their heart and in their being, and we really care about making sure our neighbors in this area get fed,” Meder-Wilgus said. “Restaurants tend to have a better grasp on providing food for larger quantities of people, so this sort of thing is just in our wheelhouse. It’s become a way to let people know that they are not alone.”

The community meal program originally started during the COVID-19 pandemic, Meder-Wilgus said, but they were discontinued due to lack of interest. .

The community meal program originally started during the COVID-19 pandemic, Meder-Wilgus said, but they were discontinued due to lack of interest. The meals were later reinstated in February and have been taking place every Wednesday since.

The meals offered are different every week, and are made with fresh, local ingredients.

“There’s no shame in eating good food, and of course, my passion is healthy, real food,” Meder-Wilgus said. “We make everything from scratch here, and we only serve, as best we can, whole food that’s not been over-processed. Unfortunately, in some food deserts, sometimes people are only able to get to places that have very heavily-processed foods.”

In addition to the community meals, Webster’s also offers a pay-it-forward kindness board that operates similarly to Little Mamma’s wall, with Meder-Wilgus planning on both services lasting long into the foreseeable future.

Plum Porch Pantry

The Plum Porch Pantry is another 24-hour miniature pantry located at 115 Clemens Lane, Suite 201, near the back of the building’s upper parking lot, that offers free goods for those in need this holiday season. It’s within the boundaries of Benner Township.

The pantry is operated by Plum Pristine Clean owner Blanca Jimenez and is stocked with a myriad of non-perishable food items like canned vegetables, soup, rice, beans, pasta, peanut butter, cereal, granola bars and snacks. It also has some hygiene products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and period products.

Additionally, pre-packed meal kits complete with everything needed for a full dinner have also been added to the pantry, and anyone with a large family is encouraged to take more than one.

“The pantry idea came directly from the federal government shutdown and the loss of SNAP benefits for many families,” Jimenez told the CDT in an email. “We wanted to respond quickly and in a way that met an immediate need — putting food directly into the hands of people who needed it right away.”

Since starting the pantry earlier this month, Jimenez shared that it’s received steady usage since the first day. Some of her clients, along with other local business owners, have also reached out wanting to donate or partner with her to keep the pantry full.

Even some of Jimenez’s own neighbors have quietly reached out, sharing that the pantry helped them or someone they know through a difficult time.

“The most meaningful feedback is simply watching items disappear as quickly as we restock them,” Jimenez said. “It tells us that the pantry is doing exactly what it was meant to do.”

Jimenez grew up utilizing programs like SNAP, which has only fueled her passion to give back to others “quietly, consistently and from the heart.”

In addition to the porch pantry, Plum Pristine Clean is also running a Holiday Toy Drive to support those in Lock Haven, where the Toys for Tots program was lost this year. Toy donations will be accepted through Dec. 6, and food pantry donations will be accepted for as long as the pantry is open — which will be for the foreseeable future.

For more help ...

If you or someone you know is facing food insecurity issues greater than what a free meal or small pantry can fix, there are other resources out there, such as several food banks spread out around the county.

These food banks, along with their addresses, hours of operation and areas served are listed below:

Potter Township Food Bank

Address: 127 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Centre Hall

Food distribution times: Third Tuesday of each month from 12:30 to 3 p.m. or by appointment; In August, distribution occurs on the second Tuesday of the month

Areas served: Centre Hall Borough, Gregg Township, Haines Township, Millheim Borough, Penn Township and Potter Township

Food Bank of State College

Address: 169 Gerald St., State College

Food distribution times: Mondays from 1 to 4:30 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

Areas served: College Township, Ferguson Township, Halfmoon Township, Harris Township, Huston Township, Patton Township, Port Matilda Borough, State College Borough, Taylor Township and Worth Township

Howard Area Food Pantry

Address: 44 Vesper St., Beech Creek

Food distribution times: First Monday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m.

Areas served: Curtin Township, Howard Borough, Howard Township, Liberty Township and Marion Township

Snow Shoe United Methodist Church Food Bank

Address: 502 Moshannon Ave., Snow Shoe

Food distribution times: Second Thursday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m.

Areas served: Burnside Township, Snow Shoe Borough and Snow Shoe Township

Philipsburg Community Action Food Pantry

Address: 14 S. Front St., Philipsburg

Food distribution times: Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., by appointment

Areas served: Philipsburg Borough, Rush Township

Faith Centre Food Pantry

Address: 135 S. Allegheny St., Bellefonte

Food distribution times: Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m., with emergency hours Mondays and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon.

Areas served: Bellefonte Borough, Benner Township, Boggs Township, Milesburg Borough, Spring Township, Union Township, Unionville Borough and Walker Township

Centre Helps

Address: 410 South Fraser St., State College

Food distribution times: 24/7 for emergencies only

Areas served: All of Centre County

Centre House

Address: 217 East Nittany Ave., State College

Food distribution times: 24/7 for emergencies only

Areas served: All of Centre County