As families and friends prepare to gather to celebrate Thanksgiving around the Thanksgiving table, many organizations and volunteers are trying to go a step further and combat the growing number of Lebanon County residents struggling with food security.
Starting in November, the holidays can bring a surge in food donations for pantries, according to Shila Ulrich, executive director of The Caring Cupboard. Last year, the Palmyra food bank brought in more than a million pounds of food.
“Organizations are taking the holidays a little bit more into consideration, so this is just kind of a benevolent time of year,” she said. “So we’ve gotten used to the mad rush and are trying to get creative in storing and managing all the food that comes to us.”
On November 16, The Caring Cupboard hosted a volunteer wrapping party that packed more than 1,000 boxes of food in advance of holiday meal distribution. “We had about 45 volunteers come out on Nov. 16, which is really awesome,” said Executive Director Shila Ulrich.
Ulrich added that the organization is typically flexible in storing the influx of food this time of year, working with groups like Gravel Hill United Methodist Church to store some of the surplus.
“You just never know from day to day what you’re going to get, how much it’s going to be and how many people are going to come through the doors to receive food,” she said. “So it’s kind of a crapshoot every day, just trying to make everything work.”
Food banks also often see an influx of volunteers during the holiday season. On November 16, the Caring Cupboard packed more than 1,000 boxes in advance of holiday meal distribution, with 45 volunteers on hand for the packing party.
“We get calls from all kinds of organizations and people who want to host a day of service as part of their holiday giving,” Ulrich said.
Food insecurity
According to Feeding America, more than 47 million people in the U.S. go hungry, including 1 in 5 children. In 2023 alone, more than 53 million people said they relied on food aid to stay fed.
According to the Asset Limited Income Constrained, Employed, or ALICE report in Lebanon County, 27% of households employ at least one person but struggle to afford basic needs, including housing, utilities, food, child care and health care. ALICE records household incomes that exceed the federal poverty level but are not high enough to meet basic needs.
According to the ALICE report, the City of Lebanon, Annville Township, Myerstown and Palmyra have more than 40% of households without income to meet basic needs.
In 2021, more than 4,300 Lebanon County residents contacted United Way’s 211 program. It connects families with local programs to help them with financial assistance, housing and food assistance.
In September, The Salvation Army of Lebanon County opened a Client Choice Pantry, open every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in their community building at 1031 Guilford St. On the first day of opening, the organization served 251 individuals, including 83 households.
“We have seen firsthand the food insecurity in our community and we are doing our best to be part of the solution,” officials said in their announcement.
Receiving food from a charity food network can be scary for residents, but Ulrich said organizations in Lebanon County are working hard to make sure families feel welcome and can get what they need for their households.
“For Lebanon County, we are fortunate that we have some great organizations that do this day in and day out,” she said. “Obviously the Caring Cupboard, Jonestown Outreach Food Pantry, Lebanon County Christian Ministries. We’re kind of equipped to handle these things on a daily basis, and we have the ability to have some outreach.”
Ulrich added that organizations like the Caring Cupboard take food safety and the transportation and storage of food very seriously.
According to Shila Ulrich, executive director of The Caring Cupboard, the holidays could see a surge in food donations for pantries. “Organizations are taking the holidays a little bit more into consideration, so this is just kind of a benevolent time of year,” she said.
What to donate
Most organizations ask donors to provide items that are “non-perishable” or non-perishable, such as peanut butter, canned soup, canned fruits and vegetables, stew and canned fish, pasta and white rice.
Ulrich said the Caring Cupboard always hopes to provide protein-rich and culturally relevant foods to families.
“We actually have a very culturally relevant food program that we started here, and we’ve been able to see some really good changes,” she said. “The number of people who come forward tend to get the food they want.”
Most organizations also accept monetary donations if residents are unable to make food donations. Organizations like the Caring Cupboard actually work with major manufacturers, retailers and farmers to secure healthy food, and one dollar goes a long way.
“We have some purchasing power through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to buy some things at a much better cost or if we buy in bulk,” Ulrich said. “But there are certain things we don’t have access to through some channels, so we’re always happy when people think of us in any capacity.”
Residents looking for more information on how to donate and contribute to the Caring Cupboard can visit their website at caringcupboard.org.
Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or at X at @DAMattToth.
This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Food Banks of Lebanon Co. fight hunger during Thanksgiving
