READING, Pa. – The frigid temperatures are impacting everything from school schedules to food services.
Food banks in the region have been forced to cancel a number of activities, including Helping Harvest’s “Mobile Market” events.
The nonprofit says it couldn’t come at worse time, as 2025 was its busiest year. It distributed more than 11.1 million pounds of food, and the need keeps growing.
“… The need is increasing. Inflation is still a problem in our community,” said Jay Worrall, president of Helping Harvest. “Prices have never gone down to the 2020 levels where they were before, and most of the people that we serve are on some kind of a fixed income.”
Helping Harvest is working with social workers from the Reading School District to make sure children who usually get free meals at school are still fed while schools are closed.