Outdoor 1-8 - Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce

8Williamsport Sun-Gazette, June 2013
FEATURE MEMBER
Food Bank taking a bite out of hunger
By MIKE REUTHER
mreuther@sungazette.com
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank takes a big
bite out of area hunger.
Just ask Jamie Caputo, branch manager of the
Williamsport-based organization, who has a full plate
of responsibilities overseeing the operation.
“We distribute food to about 130 different sites in
12 counties,” she said.
And the demand for food only seems to be
increasing.
Since the economy took a turn for the worse several
years ago, the food bank has been forced to step
up even more.
MIKE REUTHER/Sun-Gazette
Jamie Caputo, branch manager of Central Pennsylvania Food Bank,
shows off the new cooler which provides more space for the products
that require refrigeration. Caputo said the food bank is seeing an
increasing demand for food items.
“That made things more challenging,” she said.
Time was when the food bank’s stock of inventory
amounted to about 95 percent in donations.
Now, with companies and other organizations
who comprise the big donors having tightened their
belts, that’s dropped to about 75 percent.
“But we have great support throughout our service
territory,” she said.
Standing inside the food bank’s vast warehouse at
3301 Wahoo Drive, Williamsport, Caputo talked
about what it means to feed the area’s needy.
“We are kind of the United Way of food,” she
said.
Last year the food bank distributed 2.8 million
pounds of food, and it’s increasing every year.
The American Rescue Workers and the Salvation
Army are among agencies
heavily dependent on the
food bank.
“We bring the food in
and the agencies come to
us,” she said. “Agencies
need more food.
Continuing to be able
to fill their needs is always
a challenge.”
The food bank has done
its best to keep up with the
demand.
Caputo remembers not
so very long ago when the
organization was located
in an 8,000-square foot
building at 429 W. Third
St.
Back then, it served just
40 to 50 agencies.
Now, the food bank is
housed in a 14,000-square
foot site, its home since
2009.
Most recently, a 1,000-
square foot cooler was
added in the warehouse.
For now, the present
site is suitable for the
organization, Caputo said.
The food bank employs
eight people and also
makes use of volunteers
who do everything from
stocking shelves to sorting
MIKE REUTHER/Sun-Gazette
Jamie Caputo, branch manager of Central
Pennsylvania Food Bank, with some of the food
products.
food items.
The biggest challenge of running the food bank,
she said, is simply meeting the growing demand for
food.
“We are really looking to fill the gaps other agencies
might not reach,” she said.
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