‘Long line of giving’: Private-public partnerships praised at Food Bank

With levels of demand at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank reaching record highs, comparable to the early months during the pandemic, the need for products to meet that demand is great.

"To put that in perspective, between our two hubs -- this one and our Harrisburg hub -- in fiscal 2023, which we just ended, we served over 500,000 unique individuals in a population of about 3.2 million in our 27-county territory," said Joe Arthur, the food bank's executive director.

"We could not do that without the amazing public and private partnerships that we share," he added.

One of those private partnerships is with Land O'Lakes, a member-owned agribusiness and food company, which was recognized at an event at the local food bank hub for their donations of money and products to help the food bank's mission of eliminating hunger.

Most recently the company donated a truckload of their first-run, mac and cheese products plus a $40,000 grant.

"That's really a long line of giving from Land O'Lakes and their members, their farmers, over many years for our food bank. Over the years, they've contributed over $300,000 of giving to us and I think north of a half million pounds of wonderful products for our neighbors in need," Arthur said.

Speaking on behalf of the company, Steve Harnish, co-owner of Central Manor Dairy, and a member of the Land O'Lakes Inc. and Foundation Board of Directors, told the group gathered in the food banks warehouse on Wahoo Drive that the company's First Run Program was begun in 2010.

"That's when we brought truckload-sized donations of fresh products to the food bank, that comes directly from the plant," Harnish said.

The cooperative was founded over a hundred years ago, Harnish noted, on the principle of "farmers working together to ensure the well being of both this business and the communities around us."

"That organization did $19 billion worth in sales last year, but we recognize the vitality of the communities around us is actually what makes that much sales possible. So we feel an obligation-the sustainability of our businesses is crucial to the viability of those communities that we live and work in," Harnish said.

Also speaking at the event were several government officials, who praised Land O'Lakes for the work they've done with the food bank.

"Our partners in federal, state and local governments are key partners in our mission," Arthur said.

"Although we're typically 75 to 80% privately resourced, food and funds, like Land O'Lakes, our government partnerships are critical. Federal programs like SNAP, the state programs that are local reps and senators vote for...are critical to feeding our neighbors in need," Arthur said.

"Agriculture is one of the leading economic drivers in Pennsylvania," said Caryn Long Earl, director of the Bureau of Food Assistance with the state's Department of Agriculture

"But, as much food as we produce in Pennsylvania and the abundance we have, we still have a large number of people who are food insecure and don't always know where their next meal is coming from," Earl said.

"As Secretary (Russell) Redding always says, 'You can't have a charitable food system without a food system that's charitable.' And that's what we are really here to celebrate today," Earl said.

Her bureau is in charge of administering several federal and state food assistance programs, which she said is just "a small fraction of the food that the charitable food system all across the state needs.

"We really do rely on organizations like Land O'Lakes to be charitable, and provide those donations," she said.

"As a department, we are so thankful that we have the opportunity to not only work with the producers who are producing that product, but work with such a charitable giving group of producers, manufacturers, everyone along the farm to fork continuum, who is ensuring that all Pennsylvanians have access to food," Earl said.