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Fighting Hunger with Love

The New Love Center working to end hunger in Clinton & Lycoming Counties

4 min read

JERSEY SHORE- The New Love Center continues to work every day to fight and end hunger as it exists in the regions it serves. With six active and regularly scheduled programs, each tailored to address a particular segment of the population, the Center donates 5263 pounds of food every month.

The six programs which include: The Food Pantry, The Café, Military Shares, Elder Share, The PB&J Program and the backpack program, have been instrumental in helping those in need bridge the food gap that has become more prevalent and more disruptive to those in need. "While the New Love Center has been here working hard every day for the past 5 years, it is the past few weeks where we have truly been called to help our friends and neighbors.", according to the Center's Alice Fox. "We have seen a need at both of our locations the New Love Center Food Pantry on Broad Street and the New Love Café hot meals program at the Trinity United Methodist Church on Allegheny Street, both in Jersey Shore. The people of our region need our help, now, more than ever."

Even before COVID-19 pandemic, the New Love Center had served over 4,700 households in Clinton and Lycoming Counties.

The New Love Center's six areas of focus are:

The Pantry - Food Bank

When: the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, 9a-noon and 1p-3p

Where: St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 229 S. Broad Street, Jersey Shore

Who: The distribution area includes: Linden, Jersey Shore, Nippenose Valley, Waterville, Cammal, Slate Run, Avis, Woolrich, McElhattan and Lock Haven.

Contact Phone: 570-772-3275

The Café - Hot, Nutritious and Varied Meal Selection. ServSafe Certified. NOW utilizing TAKE OUT and DELIVERIES.

When: Monday through Friday with Lunch at 11a-12:30p.

Where: Trinity United Methodist Church, 1407 Allegheny Street, Jersey Shore

Who: Open to the public at no cost.

Contact Phone: 570-244-8839

Military Shares - Run by American Legion George W. Pepperman, Post #36 Home Associations

When: Third Thursday of the month, 9a-11a. Approximately 110 boxes of food to local veterans

Where: 320 Seminary Street, Jersey Shore, PA

Who: Open to Military Veterans with Military ID

Elder Share - Senior food boxes for those over 60

When: the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, 9a-noon and 1p-3p

Where: St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 229 S. Broad Street, Jersey Shore

Who: The distribution area includes: Linden, Jersey Shore, Nippenose Valley, Waterville, Cammal, Slate Run, Avis, Woolrich, McElhattan and Lock Haven. For senior citizens who meet financial guidelines

Contact Phone: 570-772-3275

Backpack Program - Over 400 back packs delivered weekly to school students

When: Every Friday During School

Where: Coordinated by the volunteers at Phelps Chapel and Tri-County Church Northeast Campus

Who: for Elementary and Middle School students of the Jersey Shore Area School District and Bucktail Area Schools in Renovo

Contact: Ken Bowers for Jersey Shore: kcbowers1@yahoo.com and Kristy Eichenlaub for Renovo Keichenlaub219@yahoo.com

PB&J Program - A jar of peanut butter, jelly and a loaf of bread

When: Once per Month 3rd Monday of the month, 9a-11a and 4p-6p

Where: St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 229 S. Broad Street, Jersey Shore

Who: A cart will be outside of the double glass doors. Please pull up and take one bag per family.

Additionally, the following programs have recently been added:

Pop Up Food Pantry - Food Pantry

When: Every other Thursday at 2p

Where: The parking Lot of the STEP Office at 124 Walnut Street in Lock Haven

Who: for residents of Lock Haven and surrounding communities

Contact : 570-772-3275

Pop Up Food Pantry - Food Pantry

When: Every other Friday at 2p

Where: The Renovo Fire Hall, 230 11th Street, Renovo

Who: for residents of Renovo and surrounding communities

Contact : 570-772-3275

The New Love Center's past and future success depends heavily upon monetary and food donations. Funding is critical to fuel their far-reaching community efforts and those who can give and want to make a difference are encouraged to make a donation via the website. A second component is to donate time. Anyone over the age of 13 can volunteer and with a total of over 3400 volunteer hours it is clear that volunteerism is a critical component of the mission of the New Love Center.

From New Love Center Vice President Dave Winkleman, "Now, more than ever, the mission of the New Love Center is needed. Having established ourselves as a critical link in the chain of community unity before the COVID 19 episodes we are prepared to face the future. In this great time of need, with the help, the love and the support of our community volunteers, the Center is well positioned to continue to provide these life enriching and lifesaving services well into and through this difficult time."

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