About Us
Who do we serve?
Some years ago, the Sullivan County Food Pantry [Food Pantry] was created as an outreach program of the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church to help a small number of families in need of food. Recently, the program has grown to the point where roughly 170 food bags and boxes are packed each bi-monthly distribution date feeding approximately 370 people [140 elderly/disabled adults, 130 other adults and 100 children] in a very rural county of north central Pennsylvania with a population of roughly 5,800. Given the growth of the program over the years, the government reporting required, and to be able to create a greater awareness of the program and its needs, it was felt a separate independent organization would be the best way to proceed going forward into the future. The Food Pantry was formed on December 31, 2024 as a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation to carry out its mission and is a 501c3 tax exempt organization.
What do we provide?
The primary activity of the Food Pantry is the distribution of food items to eligible needy individuals and families of all ages and sizes. Eligibility is determined by income guidelines set forth the by the state of Pennsylvania. The amount of food received is based on the size of the household. Participants receive a bag or box of food items each distribution session consisting of various types of canned, boxed or packaged food plus meat, cheese, eggs, milk and margarine. The food distributed is purchased primarily from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and a local supermarket.
Other related activities which the Food Pantry conducts for its participants at certain times of the year are providing coats and boots for children at wintertime, Christmas gifts for children, summer kids boxes of breakfast, lunch and snack items and the collection and distribution of blankets.
Who does the work?
All of the activities of the Food Pantry are conducted by a group of approximately 40 volunteers. The activities of the Food Panty are conducted at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Dushore, PA. The volunteers gather in the morning at the Church on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The volunteers assemble and pack all the food bags and boxes with a prescribed quantity of food items. Then in the afternoon, the participants arrive at the Church to pick up their food. Also, volunteers take food bags and boxes for distribution to two other sites where participants pick up their food. Volunteers also do the inventorying and restocking of shelves and all of the administrative and financial paperwork such food ordering, filing reports, sending thank you notes and banking.
Where does the funding come from to do this?
The activities of the Food Pantry are funded almost exclusively by private donations from individuals, area churches and local businesses and organizations. The Food Pantry does receive a small amount of money from the State of Pennsylvania and Sullivan County. Less than 5% of the donations received are used for administrative and occupancy expenses with the remainder of the funds being used to purchase food and other items for distribution to participants.
The Food Pantry provides food to needy individuals and families who lack the resources to fully provide for the basic necessities of life. Participants have limited income, which does not meet all of the housing, food, fuel clothing and medical costs confronting them. By providing food for the needy, food insecurity is alleviated and participants are able to use their limited funds for other necessities such as medical costs, housing and fuel.