Penn State DuBois Students Serve 300+ With Food Pantry

Students Kim Ball and Mike Oleniacz organize food items for distribution during a recent Christian Student Fellowship Mobile Food Pantry event. (Provided by Steve Harmic)

DUBOIS – Members of the Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) at Penn State DuBois have partnered with the Second Harvest Food Bank in Erie to bring essential food items to area families in need.  The monthly Mobile Food Pantry operates from a refrigerated truck that has been specially equipped by the Second Harvest. It has only been hosted by CSF since February, and is already serving more than 300 people in DuBois and surrounding communities.

Held on the second Saturday of each month at Wasson Elementary School, in DuBois, the Mobile Food Pantry mostly serves families who have children.  Campus Minister Kyle Gordon said those who need help from the food pantry only need to call and register ahead of time, then show up for the distribution.  Gordon explained, “After we have a list of registrants, we send that number to the Second Harvest Food Bank and they send a truck full of food to be distributed for as many people as we have on the list.  As long as they call and register, they are guaranteed food.”

Gordon said he, as well as the CSF students, have found it very rewarding to help these families in need, and that they’ll continue to do so for as long as they can.  He said, “The students have really taken ownership of this ministry of service.  It is something that many look forward to each month. I’m very proud of the students’ efforts in serving the community through this ministry and look forward to continuing this service in many years to come.”

The next food pantry distribution will take place beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 14, at Wasson Elementary School.  Anyone who would like to receive food is reminded that they must call 814-371-7471 to preregister before the distribution.

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