Connellsville food bank needs helping hand
CONNELLSVILLE — The executive director of Connellsville Area Community Ministries said the food pantry and other nonprofit organizations housed in the Community Center will need to relocate before winter because of a broken boiler.
The Rev. Shawn Goodwin said the boiler is too costly to repair leaving the building without heat as the food pantry enters its busiest season.
“I don’t want to gamble with the food and staff,” said Goodwin.
With the Connellsville Salvation Army operating out of the current building located on East Fairview Avenue, Goodwin said he is concerned.
“I’m terrified of losing the Salvation Army’s five meals a week,” Goodwin added.
In conjunction with national hunger action this month Goodwin said the food pantry is in continual need of donations to keep up with the increased number of people they service.
The food bank is open from 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday during the first three weeks each month.
Goodwin said community ministries’ board of directors made an offer this month on the former Burns Drug store on West Crawford Avenue.
Goodwin’s goal is to have the other organizations also move into the new location so they can remain central.
According to Goodwin, the food pantry provides for an average of 270 local families a month that reached a record high in December of 334 families.
Last year, Goodwin said the food pantry served 8,558 people.
While the people range in age from their late teens to seniors, Goodwin said eligibility is determined by federal guidelines.
Aside from food donations, Goodwin said volunteers are also needed as well as cash that goes toward the food pantry’s operational costs such as rent and transportation.
Goodwin said he recently sent a letter this summer to area churches seeking support when a food shortage forced the pantry to cut back on the amount of items distributed.
“We received $2,000 from one church,” said Goodwin.
Over the last few months, Goodwin said Wal-Mart, Dollar General and the Dollar Tree all in Connellsville have also contributed.
Goodwin said that Wal-Mart is donating day-old food from their bakery along with vegetables that are near expiration the food pantry gives to the Salvation Army.
Community ministries also provides crisis services and clothing for the needy.
For more information, call Community Ministries at 724-626-1120.