Centre County’s free meal programs will continue this fall, with new challenges
As summer lunch programs wind down, hunger advocates have joined forces to ensure kids not returning for in-person classes will be fed.
The Centre County YMCA summer feeding program is set to end Aug. 21, but the YMCA and Central Pennsylvania Food Bank have teamed up to continue some programming that began in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although some need will be alleviated by school meal programs, Director of the Moshannon Valley YMCA Mel Curtis said food insecurity isn’t going to disappear once schools reopen.
“We still have lots to do,” Curtis said. “This isn’t going away any time soon.”
When the lunch program concludes, the anti-hunger program will focus specifically on children who aren’t physically in school, families, senior citizens and homeless populations.
Family centers established in Centre and Clearfield counties will continue operating once every two weeks. The official locations for food distribution will be announced in the coming weeks, Curtis said.
The YMCA has secured a food chain to continue its mobile feeding programs which will be carried out by the Travelin’ Table bus and Hometown Heroes rescue truck.
“We have the capacity to move large volumes into pocketed areas where we are seeing food insecurity in high numbers,” Curtis said.
The YMCA backpack program — an initiative that sends kids home with food and hygiene products each week — will begin once kids return to school. Starting this initiative, which feeds more than 1,500 kids each year, will be a “tall task” as some kids will only be in school two days each week, Curtis said.
“We will get the job done,” he said. “Most schools are limiting non-school staff in their buildings due to COVID, and that is very understandable.”
Backpacks will be stuffed at non-school sites that will be announced in the near future. Curtis said all volunteers will be required to wear a mask and social distance.
“As important as it was when we started in March, we will be reaching out for a large volunteer base to accomplish these things,” he said. “The importance of volunteers is critical for this program.”
When the YMCA had to start its summer lunch program three months early due to schools closing amid the pandemic, Curtis was nervous about not having enough supplies or volunteers. From March 13 to July 28, volunteers donated almost 9,000 hours to the feeding program.
“This has been a great team effort,” Curtis said. “Every person has played a role in making sure we got food to those children and families in need without negative undertones. This has also been a great learning experience for many of those involved.”
Too often, hunger is associated with poverty, but Curtis said that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
“Yes, we have done some crazy things, but that was to create excitement for the children,” he said. “We all have been given hugs by kids and lots of high-fives, and we have seen some of the greatest smiles that we will always remember. This is all about the kids, and I hope no one ever loses sight of that.”
To learn more about volunteering for the YMCA feeding programs, contact Curtis at mcurtis@ymcaocc.org.
