Outdoor 1-8 - Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce

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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. !"#$%&'()*%$))&+,-.*%$)/&0%-1 !"##!$%&!$& ' (See FOOD, Page 9), Your Document Efficiency Specialists !"#$%&'()*+'&**!,#- !"#$%&'(#)*+,,*-#.'//'%0&12+*-#34#"55!" Serving North Central Pennsylvania for over 20 Years!
FEATURE MEMBER Food Bank taking a bite out of hunger 9 Williamsport Sun-Gazette, June 2013 MIKE REUTHER/Sun-Gazette Central Pennsylvania Food Bank distributes food to about 130 sites in 12 counties. Inside the warehouse (at right) can be found many of the food items that are stocked there. (From Page 8) The food bank’s coverage area includes Lycoming County and surrounding counties and extends into the Northern Tier. “We have a unique situation in the Northern Tier with transportation issues and the growing elderly,” she said. The Elder share program is part of the outreach to senior citizens. It amounts to preparing and delivering food boxes to older residents at senior centers and elderly residence facilities. There’s also Power Pack, a food distribution program targeted toward children. “We distribute 500 backpacks to kids,” she said. “We work with school districts and the YMCA.” Donations are a big part of the food bank’s collection process, but there are also the food drives. Although they comprise just a small part of the collection process, they help bring awareness to the problem of local hunger. “We have agreements with companies that work with Feeding America,” Caputo said. Feeding America, she noted, is the largest hunger advocacy group in the U.S. Its network of food banks serve 37 million people annually. The food bank is also there in times of need. The organization worked with Procter & Gamble to bring cleaning supplies to people whose homes were hit by flood waters in September 2011. Caputo said the food bank works with a Montoursville Area School District Life Skills Class, exposing them to the workplace. While her job is challenging and sometimes frustrating, she feels it’s more than worthwhile. “You get frustrated with the administrative duties, but then you meet someone you’ve helped,” she said.
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Outdoor 1-8 - Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce

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