Statewide, residents, nonprofit organizations, and businesses are adjusting to a new normal - life affected in various ways by COVID-19. Thankfully, there are numerous resources available to help area residents navigate these changes in lifestyle, schooling, income, and other areas.
Chambers of commerce and economic development corporations in central Pennsylvania have created PreparedCentralPA.com, a comprehensive resource website concerning COVID-19. The site serves as a resource center for those economically impacted by the current crisis, and content will continue to be updated.
Additionally, the Department of Human Services (DHS) will continue to process applications and benefit renewals for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Emergency SNAP applications can be expedited and issued in five days. Pennsylvanians can apply for SNAP online at http://www.compass.state.pa.us.
Pennsylvanians who are in need of food should find and contact their local food bank or pantry through Feeding Pennsylvania at http://www.feedingpa.org and Hunger-Free Pennsylvania at http://www.hungerfreepa.org. Food banks are taking extra precautions to keep both volunteers and clients safe during food preparation and distribution.
For those seeking to get involved through modified volunteerism or donations, numerous options abound, as well. Food banks are welcoming donations to help meet their increased clientele, and they may offer volunteer options. Also, United Way of Pennsylvania's 211 website is compiling a list of organizations that need volunteers or resources so their work can continue.
Resources available in the local area include the following:
Berks and Chester Counties
-Food pantry, Stuff 4 Everyone, 343 W. Main St., Birdsboro
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays
Donations sought: Box or canned meals, beverages, cereal, peanut butter, and pasta and sauce
For details: Stuff4everyoneconsignmentshop@hotmail.com, http://www.facebook.com/Stuff4EveryoneConsignmentShopInc, townlively.com/local-merchant-opens-makeshift-pantry/
-Octorara Area Food Cupboard, 714 Main St., Parkesburg
Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, subject to change. Call-ahead options and emergency food bags available.
Donations sought: Packaged nonperishable items and fresh produce
For details: 610-857-4000, http://www.octfood.com, http://www.facebook.com/OctoraraAreaFoodCupboard, townlively.com/octorara-food-cupboard-continues-to-serve/
-Chester County Food Bank, 650 Pennsylvania Drive, Exton
Hours for donations: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays (donations should be brought to the warehouse entrance at the back of the building)
Donations sought: Granola bars, fruit cups, pasta and sauce, soup, hearty canned meals, peanut butter, canned tuna/chicken, individual cereals, and quick-cook rice/grain blends
For emergency food assistance: 610-873-6000, ext. 105
For details: http://www.chestercountyfoodbank.org, http://www.facebook.com/CCFoodBank, townlively.com/food-bank-continues-to-serve-the-community/
-Honey Brook Food Pantry, located at the Good Food Distribution Center, 5064 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook
Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday and 4 to 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday
Donations sought: Spaghetti noodles and sauce, pasta, rice, boxed macaroni and cheese, instant potatoes, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, soup, canned fruit, tuna, canned stew, pasta meals, and monetary donations
For details: 610-273-6102, KRoss1414@aol.com, http://www.honeybrookfoodpantry.org, "Honey Brook Food Pantry" on Facebook, townlively.com/hbfp-seeks-food-donations/
-Food pantry, vestibule at Gateway Church, 160 Cowan Road, Parkesburg
Hours: 24/7
Donations sought: Meats (hot dogs, hamburger patties, and chicken nuggets), peanut butter, jelly, pasta, and children's cereals
For details: christychesnet@gmail.com, http://www.gtwy.church, "Gateway Church" on Facebook, townlively.com/church-opens-makeshift-food-pantry/
Dauphin County
-Hershey Food Bank and Community Outreach, 120 E. Derry Road, Hershey
Hours: 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month, as well as 9 to 11:30 a.m. on the Wednesday before the third Thursday of the month
Hours for donations: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays or anytime in a drop bin
For details: 717-520-3143, hersheyfoodbank@verizon.net, http://hersheyfoodbank.com/
-The Caring Cupboard, 131 N. Railroad St., Palmyra
Hours: 3 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays
Hours for donations: 8 a.m. to noon and 3 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays
For details: 717-838-9493, info@caringcupboard.org, http://www.caringcupboard.org
-Northern Dauphin Food Pantry, Northern Dauphin Human Service Building, 295 State Drive, Elizabethville
Hours: By appointment only, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every second Tuesday
For details: http://www.centralpafoodbank.org/ndfp/
Lancaster County
-Lancaster Cares COVID-19 Response Fund, created by the Lancaster County Community Foundation and United Way of Lancaster County
For details: http://www.givegab.com/campaigns/lancaster-cares-covid-19-response-fund, townlively.com/groups-launch-countywide-response-fund/
-Resource and Information Guide, by Tabor Community Services and Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership
For details: http://www.LHOP.org, http://www.tabornet.org, townlively.com/tabor-lhop-offer-information-guide/
-Northeastern Lancaster County Food Bank, located at St. Paul's United Methodist Church (UMC), 105 W. Main St., Terre Hill
Hours: Third Thursday of each month
Donations sought: Assorted soups and pastas, side-dish packets with pasta or rice, Hamburger Helper, pancake mix (complete) and syrup, canned beans, canned vegetables, canned fruit, single-serve packs of applesauce, juice packs, canned chicken, canned tuna packed in water, jelly, peanut butter, ketchup, mustard, and household supplies such as laundry detergent, dish detergent, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and paper towels
For details: 717-445-5698, townlively.com/feeding-terre-hill/
-Martic Pantry, provides debit cards that can be used at Martic Store, 561 Martic Heights Drive, Holtwood
Donations sought: Monetary donations
For details: 717-923-0561, marticpantry@gmail.com, "Martic Pantry" on Facebook, townlively.com/martic-pantry-is-here-to-help/
-Blessings of Hope, Becker Road, Leola, distributes food boxes through New Covenant Church of God, 111 E. Chestnut St., Ephrata
Distribution hours at New Covenant: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesdays
For details: 717-824-1227, admin@blessingsofhope.com, http://www.blessingsofhope.com, townlively.com/ministry-brings-milk-and-more-to-those-in-need/
-Food pantry and Market Food Drive-Through, The Factory Ministries at the Together Community Center, 3293 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise
Hours for Market Food Drive-Through: 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays
Hours for donations: 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays (donate at the red tent outside the building)
For details: 717-687-9594, townlively.com/food-giveaway-event-slated-2/, townlively.com/responding-to-community-needs/
-Lunch Program and Supplemental Weekend Meal Program, The Factory Ministries at the Together Community Center, 3293 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise
Hours: noon to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays
For details: Karla_neff@pequeavalley.org, 717-768-5513, 717-687-9594, ext. 206, for Lunch Program and 717-768-5577 for Supplemental Weekend Meal Program, townlively.com/working-together-to-feed-pv/
-Food bank and Weekend Blessings program, Conestoga Valley Christian Community Services, 2420 Gehman Lane, Lancaster
Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Donations sought: Meal kits, canned soup, canned fruit, canned pasta, spaghetti sauce, canned meats, boxed potatoes, canned chili, shampoo, deodorant, laundry detergent, toiletry items, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, and paper towels
For details: https://cvccs.org, townlively.com/meeting-needs-in-cv-school-district/
-CrossNet Ministries Food and Nutrition Center, 127 Franklin St., New Holland
Hours: Wednesdays
Donations sought: Canned fruit, pancake mix, pancake syrup, canned pasta, spaghetti sauce, jelly, canned meats, boxed potatoes, shampoo, deodorant, laundry detergent, toiletry items, toilet paper, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products
For details: http://elancocross.org, townlively.com/crossnet-food-and-nutrition-center-rises-to-the-occasion/
-Humane Pennsylvania's Spike's Pet Pantry
Donations sought: Dry cat food, other pet food, and supplies purchased through Humane Pennsylvania's AmazonWishList, as well as financial donations made at http://www.humanepa.org
Shipped to: Humane Veterinary Hospitals Reading, 1729 N. 11th St., Reading, or the Humane Veterinary Hospitals Lancaster and the Humane League of Lancaster County, 2195 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
For details: 610-750-6100, ext. 232, hgiffin@humanepa.org, townlively.com/pet-pantry-asks-for-assistance/
-Solanco Neighborhood Ministries, 355 Buck Road, Quarryville; intakes currently done over the phone or via email
Hours for donations: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays
Donations sought: Long spaghetti, cream soups such as mushroom and chicken, loaves of bread, peanut butter, pancake mix and syrup, Rice-a-Roni, Pasta Roni, large cans of baked beans, hot dogs, toothpaste, and liquid laundry detergent
For details: 717-786-4308, tdolan@snministries.org, http://www.solanconeighborhoodministries.org, townlively.com/snministries-offers-food-and-more/
-Lititz Warwick Community Chest, delivers food to clients
Donations sought: Canned fruits, canned meats, white or brown rice, boxed potatoes, meal kits, canned pasta, pancake mix, syrup, and powdered milk, as well as monetary donations
For details: http://lwcommunitychest.org, townlively.com/meeting-needs-in-lititz/
-Community Food Pantry, Mission Church, 651 Lampeter Road, Lancaster
Hours: By appointment
Donations sought: nonperishable food and household items
For details: 717-393-9600, foodpantry@mission-church.com, http://www.mission-church.com/foodpantry, townlively.com/mission-church-launches-community-food-pantry/
York County
-Prepared York, operated by York County Economic Alliance, offers information and resources for businesses, nonprofits, and employees
For details: http://www.preparedyork.com, townlively.com/ycea-launches-website-modifies-event-schedule/
-York County Food Bank, 254 W. Princess St., York
Hours: 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Fridays, drive-through distributions
Donations sought: Monetary donations and volunteer support
For details: 717-846-6435, jenniferb@yorkfoodbank.org, http://www.yorkfoodbank.org, https://yorkfoodbank.org/resources-for-those-in-need/, townlively.com/food-bank-posts-drive-through-option/, townlively.com/food-bank-seeks-donations-volunteers/
-Food pantry, Community REACH Inc., 15 First Ave., Red Lion
Donations sought: Monetary donations accepted; food donations not being accepted
For details: 717-244-6934, http://www.commreach.org, townlively.com/agency-continues-to-meet-needs/
-Home Delivered Meal Program and Congregate Meal Program, September House Senior Center, 1251 W. King St., York
Hours for Home Delivered Meal Program: Mondays, delivery of seven meals
Hours for Congregate Meal Program: 11 a.m. to noon on Mondays through Wednesdays, takeout
For details: 717-848-4417, townlively.com/changes-to-meal-programs-posted/
-New Hope Ministries, various locations and mobile pantries in southcentral Pennsylvania
Donations sought: Monetary donations, personal care donations, and food, including fresh fruit, uncooked produce, and perishable food from restaurants and other food service industries
For details: 717-432-2087, http://www.nhm-pa.org, townlively.com/new-hope-remains-open/, townlively.com/ministry-seeks-food-donations/
-Congregate Meal Program, Golden Connections Community Center, 20-C Gotham Place, Red Lion
Hours: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. daily, takeout
For details: townlively.com/golden-connections-modifies-schedule/
Readers may visit the dedicated coronavirus webpage at http://www.dhs.pa.gov or http://www.agriculture.pa.gov for up-to-date information regarding COVID-19.
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