May 2, 2019 2 min read

Greater Washington County Food Bank is one of many nonprofits that have benefitted from the Local Share Account in Washington County. In fact, in 2015 when we moved to Centerville Borough, it was a grant from LSA that was used to made the down payment. That $250,000 grant afforded us the flexibility and collateral to become owners instead of perpetual renters.

The last lease agreement with the landlord in Eighty Four would have had us paying $162,000 annually by term’s end. Without a doubt, LSA seed money enabled the food bank to purchase land and buildings so we are not bound by triple net lease agreements with predictable annual increases.

Thanks to the LSA grant, we are no longer issuing checks for thousands of dollars each month for the privilege of occupying someone else’s warehouse. We are now building equity and launching innovative programs that will positively impact the lives of those we serve.

The GWCFB works on a shoestring budget yet delivers millions of pounds of food each year. We provide supplemental nutrition to thousands of clients who rely on our continued existence. Ownership, perhaps more than anything else, affords us stability as well as the capacity to expand programs and services.

In the brief time we have been located at the new property, the food bank has developed a full functioning Healthy Habits Training Center, Country Thrift Market and The Farm in addition to the food banking portion that ensures pantry distributions throughout the county.

I implore our local and state government to preserve the LSA as a competitive funding stream for municipal government, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.

Peg Wilson

Greater Washington County Food Bank Board President