The New Love Center at 229 South Broad St., Jersey Shore will continue its work thanks to a new mobile pantry.
The non-profit organization fighting to end hunger in Clinton and Lycoming counties recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and blessing of the new cell service.
“Our plan is to travel to more remote areas of Clinton and Lycoming counties and meet people where they are,” according to a New Love Center release.
During the ceremony, The New Love Center thanked its sponsors and partners, some of whom were present.
“When we started eight years ago, our ambition was to feed people from Jersey Shore and Clinton County to Woolrich. As food insecurity persisted, Geisinger approached The New Love Center to work with them on a pilot project for their food-insecure and diabetic clients,” said Alice Fox, President of New Love Food Bank, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “The pharmacy for fresh food emerged from this pilot project. So many diabetics have noticed an improvement in their health. …Of course the pandemic came and another opportunity to serve. We saw a tremendous opportunity to feed people from other areas.”
“It just evolved. And so our cafe has been around since we started the New Love Center, offering nutritious meals five days a week. We currently serve over 1,000 meals a month. A lot of people are being fed,” Fox said.
Joe Arther, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, was in attendance and spoke during Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We’re at some of the highest levels of need historically,” Arther said. “I’m grateful for what’s happening here today because this is an example of New Love Center reaching out again and finding other ways to help people in areas that may not have enough service. And I know these challenges are not easy. We take so much pride in serving and investing in our partners.”
“It takes a bit of money, a bit of planning. Here we are. We got the trailer and we got a truck and got food. We’re so blessed, so blessed. I just can’t say enough about it,” Fox said.
The programs offered by TNLC are The Food Pantry, The Cafe, Fresh Food Farmacy (a partnership with Geisinger), Military Shares, Elder Share, The PB&J Program, and the Backpack Program.
New Love Center sponsors include the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), C&N Bank, Jersey Shore State Bank, M&T Bank, Muncy Bank & Trust Company and Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
“Individually and collectively, they have been instrumental in helping those in need to bridge the food gap. a gap that has become increasingly common and disruptive for populations affected by food insecurity,” the press release said.
The first launch site for the food truck will be at the Geisinger Medical Center in Muncy in mid-April.
For updates, follow The New Love Center on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thenewlovecenter or visit their website at www.thenewlovecenter.com.
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