READING, Pa. – Food banks need your help.
“People are just very anxious about keeping their pantries full,” said Jay Worrall, president of Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank.
Meeting anxiety with action.
“To have the food drive this weekend, the Scouts’ food drive this weekend, is very helpful to those people that are concerned,” Worrall said.
It’s called “Scouting for Food”, and it’s set to take place this Saturday as Boy Scout troops partner with numerous area churches and food pantries to help collect non-perishable food.
Amid the ongoing SNAP benefits concerns and delays, Worrall says the time to help is now.
“They understand there’s 66,000 people in Berks County that rely on food stamps to meet part of their diet. People understand that with that program not available, people just need more help right now,” Worrall said.
When so many are dealing with less, a little can go a long way.
“Even in a small way, when people are hurting as much as they are now, is very helpful,” he added.
The state’s also stepping in as Governor Shapiro has pledged five million dollars to the PA Ag Surplus System.
“Which is a program that we use to purchase food that’s been grown or raised in Pennsylvania and make that food available to the people who come visit us at our pantries,” Worrall explained.
Meeting the need as we speak, volunteers and at Helping Harvests Community Kitchen in Reading are busy prepping meals for Thanksgiving.
“In our kitchen, we’re making 15,000 Thanksgiving meals. Turkey, homemade gravy, homemade sweet potato mashed potatoes, green beans and cranberry sauce packaged as a microwave-ready meal. We’ll be distributing those to seniors and people with disabilities,” Worrall said.