The American Rescue Workers (ARW) is putting out a call for volunteers as they anticipate the opening of a new program, which will expand the operation of their food pantry.

“Our food pantry is one of the largest, if not the largest here, that the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank works with,” said Jennifer Rempe, Director of Development & Community Engagement at ARW. “And we do it out of a very small space.”

The pantry is currently serving about 1,000 families a month, which equates to about 50 to 100 people per day.

“Sometimes the number has even gone up to 110 people a day…and it’s a very small space,” Rempe said.

The number of people who are being served has increased since last year. For the seven-month period from January to July this year, there were about 90 more households and 224 more people served than during that period last year. That means that they have provided food for 18,771 people over that time this year.

Anyone shopping for groceries knows that costs have increased this year. Couple that with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits being cut and families whose income is just above the poverty line are struggling to meet their monthly bills and put food on the table.

There are also more people in the population known as ALICE-the Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed-utilizing the food pantry, Rempe said.

“That’s who’s mostly coming to our pantry, where they’re making minimum wage and they’re working gainfully, but they just can’t make ends meet, and so when faced with the choice between paying their rent or paying their utility bill or putting food on the table, food comes last, unfortunately,” she said.

This motivated ARW to expand to a Client Choice Food Pantry which will operate like a grocery store which allows guests to pick out the dry goods they need “with dignity, respect and choice,” according to information from the non-profit.

Currently when clients come to the food pantry they pick some of their food from the shelves in the office and are given a ticket based on the size of their family. They then drive to the back of the building and are handed a box that includes protein, dairy, fruits and vegetables in addition to dry goods.

“That box of food might include things that they don’t like to cook with, you know, cans of white beans or cans of black beans. That may be all that we have — sometimes there’s not a choice,” Rempe said.

It might be that someone is looking for a specific ingredient for a recipe and it’s not in the box they were given.

ARW knew they needed to expand the food pantry, but were faced with the obstacle of where to locate the additional space. They finally settled on the parking lot as the best spot.

“Last year, we were able to get full grant funding through several private foundations, and we had a custom shed built,” she explained.

“In our client choice pantry people will be able to shop for the things that they want to have, that they can pick off the shelves, just like they would at a grocery store. And so it gives them a lot more dignity in choosing their own food and being able to cook what their family likes to eat — so we’re really thrilled about this,” she said.

The shed is approximately 12 feet by 28 feet and has a ramp to accommodate people with disabilities.

“It will be filled with canned goods, dry goods, such as rice, pasta and cereal,” she said.

The non-profit is also seeking a grant to install freezers and coolers at the back of its warehouse which is where the dry goods had been stored.

For the moment, though, volunteers are needed to help people navigate the new system for obtaining food.

“We need volunteers to help our neighbors navigate the new flow of operations and to help them carry their basket over, or we may even have a couple shopping carts, small shopping carts, that th volunteers to help them, from one building to the other, and then come back and get their refrigerated items,” she said.

Ideal volunteers would be retired or semi-retired individuals who are outgoing, kind and supportive, according to information from ARW.

Their job would be to “guide guests through the pantry, offer conversation and encouragement and help foster a welcoming atmosphere,” the information stated.

The pantry is open five days a week: Mondays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Wednesdays, 1 to 4 p.m.

Volunteer shifts will be flexible and usually last two to six hours.

Volunteers must obtain a PA Child Abuse Clearance — a $13 fee applies.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to give back directly and see the impact you’re making on local families,” Rempe said.

The volunteer application can be found at arwwilliamsport.org/about/volunteer-information/

Potential volunteers can also call Rempe at 570-323-8401, ext. 6, for assistance with the application process.