For those who have never had to worry about when or where you will eat your next meal, it’s hard to imagine what it feels like to be hungry.
In the United States, 42 million people struggle to get enough to eat. This is a problem in every community, and even here, in central Pennsylvania. It’s called food insecurity.
“Central Pennsylvania Community Action Inc. (CPCA) works hard every day to make sure our neighbors here have someplace to go to get food when they have nowhere else to turn,” says Susan Hawthorne, director.
CPCA operates a number of local food pantries in Centre and Clearfield counties.
“CPCA serves the local communities of central Pennsylvania, perhaps some of your friends, neighbors or co-workers,” Hawthorne added. “Hunger is not always recognizable, but it is a problem CPCA is trying to lessen here.”
According to Hawthorne, the goal of Hunger Action Month is to encourage more people to be a part of the fight against hunger, whether it’s by advocating and raising awareness, making donations or volunteering.
Would you like to be a part of the local fight against hunger? CPCA needs volunteers at its food pantries, donations of non-perishable food items, donations of grocery store gift cards or monetary donations.
You can make a tax-deductible monetary donation safely, online, by visiting the CPCA Web site at www.cpcaa.net.
You can mail your checks, made out to CPCA, to CPCA, 109 W. Bishop St., Bellefonte, PA 16823 for Centre County efforts. For Clearfield County efforts, send your checks to CPCA, 207 E. Cherry St., Clearfield, PA 16830.
For more information about volunteering at one of the food pantries, contact Volunteer Coordinator Robin Knepp in CPCA’s Philipsburg office at 814-342-0404, and she can connect you to the CPCA food pantry nearest you.
