Since July 2018, Landis Valley Christian Fellowship (LVCF), located at 2420 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster, and pastored by Steve Gibbs, has held a Peter's Porch on the fourth Saturday of each month from 8 to 10 a.m. "There are four Peter's Porches, and we are the last one to set up," said Sue Pearce, food coordinator for the Peter's Porch at LVCF, who noted that the other Peter's Porch locations are in Denver, Akron, and Lititz.
Anyone is welcome at a Peter's Porch, which traditionally includes a free breakfast and food pantry. Some churches also offer a clothing bank. Everything at Peter's Porch is free. The next Peter's Porch will be held at LVCF from 8 to 10 a.m. on May 23.
The LVCF Peter's Porch has traditionally offered a free breakfast that includes scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage patties, oatmeal, fresh fruits, doughnuts or muffins, and juice, coffee, or tea. However, the Peter's Porch on March 28 was adjusted in response to the COVID-19 crisis, so no breakfast was served, and the food pantry was modified.
"We did a drive-through (food pantry on March 28)," said Pearce, who instructed the 10 volunteers - twice that many take part when a breakfast is served - to distance themselves from each other. "We toted all the food upstairs," shared Pearce, who explained that normally the food bank items are displayed on long tables in the church basement.
The only aspect of Peter's Porch that requires qualification is the food pantry. Pearce explained that the church takes part in a USDA program through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Recipients must register annually by providing an estimated household income and a signature, and a paper must be signed each month to signify that food was received. For its food pantry, the church orders food from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. One church member also purchases food at a minimal cost from the Blessings of Hope warehouse located in Manheim Township. Pearce usually puts Blessings of Hope food on separate tables at Peter's Porch, as recipients do not need to register to receive it.
In advance of the March 28 pantry, Pearce was able to complete new registrations by phone with permission to sign for applicants. Those receiving food checked in from their car at the basement door toward the back of the church before pulling up under the carport near the front doors. "When a car came up, we found out how many tickets they were allocated," said Pearce, who noted that the size of a family determines how many bags of groceries they receive. Pearce said groceries were given out in several bags, including one with vegetables and fruit and a separate bag of frozen items including chicken breast or pork. "It was torrential rain that day," recalled Pearce, who had a team stationed in the foyer to bring bags of groceries forward.
Pearce cautioned her volunteers, who wore gloves and carried sanitizing wipes, before delivering the groceries to the cars. Those receiving food were instructed to get out and pop their car trunks and then get back in the car. "Some people wanted to stand outside and talk," recalled Pearce. "We had to tell them to get back in the car (because) I need to keep my volunteers and our guests safe," she said. In some cases, food had to be put in the back seat of a car. "It took a bit of managing, but they did well," said Pearce.
Area residents who wish to take part in Peter's Porch may visit http://www.landisvalleyfellowship.org and click on Contact Us. "If someone wants food, they can fill in their information, and it will get to our pastor the same day," said Pearce, who added that the pastor will contact her. Also, area residents can call the church at 717-569-6051 and leave a message. Contact information can also be found at http://www.pa211east.org.
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