Community Supports Columbia Food Bank
"We're pretty much here whenever people need us, which is kind of a nice reputation to have," said Columbia Food Bank director Danielle Peters. And lately the community has turned out in spades to return that favor by supporting the food bank and its efforts. The community's efforts in May were particularly impressive. "We had an amazing month," Peters shared. "Every Saturday in May there (was) a food drive for us."
The Mountville Lions Club kicked things off with its biannual food drive at Musser's Markets, followed by the post office food drive the next weekend. On May 18, St. John's Herr Estate collected nonperishable food items for the Columbia Food Bank as part of its Red, White, and Blueberry Jamboree. "That was a new one for us, and it was a pretty sweet deal," said Peters with a laugh, explaining, "If you brought 10 items in for the food bank, you got a free piece of blueberry pie."
Rounding out the month was a food drive on May 25 organized by Reformation Lutheran Church in Lancaster. "It has been amazing. I just can't get over it," Peters said.
Located in the fellowship hall of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 340 Locust St., the Columbia Food Bank serves residents of Columbia, Mountville, and West Hempfield and Manor townships who are in need of food assistance.
"We've been in existence for over 30 years, and it started out as a hot lunch program for the Episcopal Ladies ... but they soon realized something more was needed by the community," explained Peters, who has served as the director for 14 years. "What we try to do here is say, 'Hi, come in, sit down, and tell us your story.' And everyone that comes through our doors has a story."
Connecting on a relational level is a vital part of the screening process for the staff and volunteers at the Columbia Food Bank. "It's the idea of talking to our clients. The more we can know them, the more we can try to help them," Peters said.
"Food for the body is a given, but sometimes you just need food for your soul and to know that somebody is going to see you," continued Peters. "What grounds me and my volunteers is that consistency of connection."
Staying grounded is certainly a necessity, as the organization is one of the two largest food pantries in the county, second only to the downtown Lancaster County Food Hub, formerly known as the Lancaster County Council of Churches. In addition to Peters and assistant director Suzanne Ollar, the team at the Columbia Food Bank is made up of approximately 20 volunteers ranging from age 7 to 92. Some help out once a month while others are there every day that the food bank is open to clients. "It looks like such a small family (of volunteers), but when you look at the numbers it just kind of knocks your socks off (that we can do this)," remarked Peters.
According to Ollar, the Columbia Food Bank distributed more than 25,000 pounds of food from January to April. In 2018, more than 65,000 pounds of food was handed out, and Ollar is projecting that number will increase to more than 73,000 pounds for 2019. More than 6,000 pounds of food items was collected through the food drives in May, yet there is still a need for continuing donations in the months to come. Nonperishable food donations may be delivered to the church during food bank operating hours between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, or folks may call 717-449-5101 to schedule a time.
More volunteers are always welcome, particularly in the summer months - a season that Peters noted is an extra busy time for the food bank. To inquire about volunteering or food bank eligibility, interested individuals may call the aforementioned number or visit http://www.columbiafoodbank.org. Anyone may stop in once a year to receive an emergency box of food.
"We just want people to know that we're here. You're trying to make it, but there are just some months that you run into the perfect storm with medical bills or losing a job or any number of things, and that's when we want people to know we're here," summarized Peters. "Tell them to come in and tell us their story."
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