Seeking participation

Early February brings the Super Bowl, Groundhog Day, and, in Washington County, the kickoff of the annual food drive to benefit local food pantries of Greater Washington County Food Bank.
In addition to requesting canned and boxed foods, cleaning supplies, detergent and paper products from the general public, library patrons and 4-H groups, organizer Don Carter sent letters to the county’s 14 school districts notifying them of the drive and seeking their participation.
“Everything collected in your school district will benefit the food pantries that serve your district,” Carter, Farm Bureau coordinator, and Connie Burd, food bank executive director, wrote in a letter to the school administrators.
The letter notes service clubs, school-related organizations, clubs and Future Farmers of America chapters can also solicit donations for the local food drive, which ends March 31.
The food bank in December served 6,868 individuals, including 1,962 children aged 17 and under and 1,562 people over 60, Burd said Monday, and the food bank purchased 55,643 pounds of food. Another 53,221 pounds of food was donated locally.
“Things are pretty tough right now,” Burd said.
Those who are at least 60 years of age and who have an annual income of $15,171 or less ($1,265 monthly) can get on a waiting list for the federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program. Current income guidelines are subject to change.
The food bank distributed an additional 18,552 pounds of food through this food program, and, based on the size of the waiting list, the Pennsylvania Agriculture Department is willing to increase the number of boxes allocated. Participants can receive 30- to 50-pound boxes of food.
Those who are already receiving food through a pantry can apply for the program at the pantry or call the food bank at 724-229-8175, or email info@gwcfb.org.
Carter’s goal this year is 12,000 pounds of food, besting last year’s collection of 11,611 pounds. Filling a front-end loader with donated food will be part of Washington County Agricultural Days March 13 and 14 at Washington Crown Center.
A contest among local libraries is also part of this year’s food drive. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the libraries that collect the most pounds of canned goods and cleaning supplies. Another food drive-related project is the promotion of community gardens that would produce fresh vegetables for needy people in the school districts. Seeds have been donated for community gardens, so Carter and Burd gave school administrators the contact information for Cristi Parks from Peters Township, who has nurtured a garden at the elementary school level.
Washington County 4-H clubs collected 5,857 pounds of food and supplies for the food bank last year, and the county Farm Bureau gave a cash award to the 10 clubs donating the most food.