Food Bank Distribution Opens to Major Crowds in Lock Haven
By Christopher Miller
LOCK HAVEN – Thursday afternoon in downtown Lock Haven saw a massive crowd of cars stretching down Water, Vesper, and Main Streets and down Mill Street to the parking lot of Great Island Presbyterian Church.
The New Love Center, in conjunction with Great Island Presbyterian Church, held a food bank beginning at 4 p.m. with the aim of feeding approximately 100 families in need because of COVID-19.
Alice Fox, Board President of The New Love Center was on hand to assist with operations at this inaugural food bank “pop up pantry.”
“The food was donated by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank (based out of Harrisburg and Williamsport), remarked Alice. “This took about a week to organize, put together.” Suzanne Camerer, the wife of the Pastor of Great Island Presbyterian Church, was instrumental in organizing a large swath of volunteers who took to the parking lot and the streets helping to serve those in need.
Church Pastor Taylor Camerer was on hand to give a tour to the media. “Milk, bread, eggs, pork, meat, vegetables, peanut butter, pasta…this is the first time we have ever done such a thing here with our church,” said Taylor.
The event will happen every Thursday starting at 4 p.m. in the Great Island Presbyterian Church parking lot on Mill Street in Lock Haven for as long as the Coronavirus crisis continues.
The current plans for Renovo are every-other Friday, beginning March 27, at the Renovo Fire Hall from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. or until the food runs out.
The New Love Center recently acquired 4 acres of land on Route 150 between Dunnstown and Woolrich. They plan on constructing a large storage and distribution facility complete with food bank, a cafe, classrooms and nutrition education. A capital campaign will be kicking off during the second half of this year.
Anybody interested in volunteering or giving back is instructed to “give funds, give food, give time.”
Food Bank Times and Location:
Lock Haven
Great Island Presbyterian Church parking lot
Mill Street
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Every Thursday
Renovo
Renovo Fire Hall
2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Every other Friday (tentatively) beginning March 27
