Anti-Hunger Programs – YMCA of Centre County

Donate Today!

We’re committed to ensuring people in our community do not go hungry. If you are too, consider making a financial contribution to this program. Donations can be made in the following ways:

By Mail: to YMCA of Centre County, Development Office, 677 W Whitehall Road, State College, PA 16801
Online: click here to donate online

Donations to the YMCA of Centre County are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. (Tax ID# 24-0802437) Together, we are building a stronger community, providing support for families, and promoting overall positive change. Thank you again for your support.

The official registration and financial information of YMCA of Centre County may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

Feeding Our Community During COVID-19

Special Food Distribution – Downtown State College

Wednesday, April 21 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

The YMCA of Centre County’s Anti-Hunger Program, Student Anti-Hunger Group, and the State College Borough will host a food distribution downtown (on Locust Lane between Beaver and College Avenue) on Wednesday, April 21. Food will be distributed between 4- 6 PM. This will be a walk through distribution open to all Penn State students and community members.

The Student Anti-Hunger Group will be providing fruit smoothies, snow cones, and popcorn. Milk will also be provided courtesy of Undeniably Dairy.

Information about the Anti-Hunger Program will be available, and you can also stop by to meet Sue Paterno, who is has been a strong advocate fighting food insecurity among the student population.

Farmers to Families Food Distributions

We’ll be hosting Farmers to Families food distributions at the following locations. The USDA Farmers to Families program purchases food from farmers across the country who are struggling to sell what they produce during COVID-19. For more information, please contact Mel Curtis at [email protected] or (814) 342-0889.

Wednesday, April 28 at West Branch High School beginning at 4:00 PM.

More locations may be added, so please continue to check our website and social media pages for updates.

Baby Food

We carry a limited supply of baby food for those who are in need. Please call Mel Curtis at 814-342-0889 for more information.

Local Restaurant Partnerships

The Travelin’ Table, our mobile feeding bus, has been on the road distributing food we are receiving through partnerships with several local restaurants. For more information, please contact Mel Curtis at [email protected] or 814-342-0889.

Large Food Distributions

These distributions provide larger amounts of food for families in need. Additional distribution dates and locations will be posted on our Facebook page and this portion of the website. All distributions will begin no earlier than the designated start time listed below. For more information, please contact Mel Curtis at [email protected] or 814-342-0889.

2nd and 4th Saturday of Every Month:
- At 10:00 AM at the 200 Shady Lane (Partnership Building) in Philipsburg
Every Friday:
- At 5:00 PM at Howard United Methodist Church
2nd and 4th Monday of Every Month
- At 3:30 PM at the Bigler YMCA

Fresh Express Distributions

The Fresh Express program is a partnership between the YMCA and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. This program is income based on family income guidelines and each family or individual must complete a self-declaration form on current income. Self-declarations can be completed at the distribution site prior to receiving food. The food provided offers staple fresh foods, such as meats, fruits, and vegetables. The sites listed below serve as distribution locations for Fresh Express. For more information, please contact Mel Curtis at [email protected] or 814-342-0889.

1st and 3rd Thursday of Every Month:
- At 12:00 PM in Snow Shoe at the Township Building.
1^st Wednesday of Every Month:
- At the Progress Grange in Centre Hall
1st and 3rd Thursday of Every Month:
- Time TBA at Chester Hill Fire Company (Philipsburg).
2nd and 4th Thursday of Every Month:
- At 6:30 PM at the Bald Eagle Valley United Methodist Church in Wingate (behind the Sheetz store).
1st and 3rd Thursday of Every Month:
- At 4:00 PM at the “Diamondback Family Center” – St. Barbara’s Church in Houtzdale.

Food Delivery – Ripken Project

Through several partnerships, we are occasionally able to provide food delivery service to shut-ins and those that don’t have transportation to one of our sites. To receive this assistance, please contact Mel Curtis at [email protected] or 814-342-0889.

During these unprecedented times, we have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. We can do this by following the example of family pets. Pets (one of which this program was named after) are always there when we need them, and many people are in need of this type of support right now.

Through the Ripken Project, you can take 30 minutes of your day and volunteer to deliver boxed food to those who are unable to travel to our distribution sites. You can volunteer as frequently as you are able, and you can simply drop off the boxed food at the door to avoid physical contact.

We need people in all communities to assist with this project. If you would like more information, please contact Mel Curtis at [email protected] or 814-342-0889.

Hometown Heroes

The “Hometown Heroes” firetruck is a new mobile feeding unit. It is named after all the volunteers that have worked with the YMCA Anti-Hunger Program. Their dedication to this program, the long hours they have put in, and their passion for helping others has helped us increase our efforts tremendously.

Similar to the Travelin’ Table, this vehicle transports food across Centre County. It has made appearances at several food distributions, special food-related events, and educational events to help spread awareness about food insecurity in our communities.

Backpack Weekend Food Program

Each week during the school year, participating students receive a backpack containing meals and snacks to take home with them for the weekend. Examples of food students receive include: cereal, soup, tuna, spaghetti, crackers, fruits, and more.

The YMCA works closely with local schools to distribute information to students/parents qualifying for the Free/Reduced Lunch Program. Parents interested in enrolling their child/children complete a brief, confidential application/permission form (linked below). No child is turned away from the opportunity to participate in this program.

Backpack Program Instructions for 2020-2021 School Year

If you are interested in having your child participate in the Backpack Program, please complete the registration form linked below. This program is open to everyone – you will NOT be asked to provide any financial information in order to participate.

Children participating in virtual learning or being homeschooled this year, are STILL eligible to participate in our Backpack Program. The registration form for this program can be found linked below or a paper copy can be picked up at any of our four branches (Bellefonte, Moshannon Valley, Penns Valley, and State College). A form must be completed in order for a child to receive food, and if you have more than one child to register, you must complete a form for each. Completed forms can be returned to the front desk at any YMCA of Centre County branch, the main office of the school the child attends, or emailed to Mel Curtis at [email protected].

Once a child is enrolled in the Backpack Program, food will be packed and ready for them each Friday. For students who are learning from home, a parent/guardian will be responsible for picking up the food at their nearest YMCA of Centre County branch on Friday afternoon. Children who are attending school as normal will receive their food before they leave school on Friday (just as they have in the past). If you have additional questions about the pickup process or the Backpack Program in general, please contact Mel Curtis at [email protected] or 814-342-0889.

Registration Form:

Backpack Registration Form

Serving These School Districts

Bald Eagle Area	Bellefonte Area	CenClear	Moshannon Valley
Philipsburg-Osceola	Penns Valley Area	State College Area	West Branch
Clearfield Area School District

Program Volunteers

The Backpack Program is made possible through the dedication and commitment of volunteers.

For information about volunteering, contact:

Mel Curtis: [email protected]

Watch Our Backpack Program In Action

Travelin’ Table Mobile Feeding Program

More than 20,000 people in Centre County are wondering where their next meal is coming from. We think that’s unacceptable. That’s why we’ve partnered with CenClear Child Services to create the Travelin’ Table, a mobile feeding bus that will meet the needs of children in our community that do not have access to nutritious meals and other important resources they need to sustain healthy physical and mental growth.

A lot of children in our community depend on free and reduced lunch programs that ensure they are provided with healthy meals at school, but when school is not in session, those meals are no longer available. In addition, children and families who live in outlying areas of Centre County do not have access to or knowledge of healthcare resources available to them. That’s where the Travelin’ Table comes in.

The bus travels through the communities we serve to bring food and other resources directly to those who need them. No questions asked. It is equipped with a full kitchen to support distribution of healthy meals, healthcare education and screenings provided by Penn State Health, and educational supplies and sports equipment to combat summer learning loss and encourage exercise.

In addition to the Travelin’ Table, we have recently added a second mobile unit, called “Hometown Heroes”. This unit will provide meals and boxed food similar to the Travelin’ Table. Stay tuned for more information.

Summer Lunch Program

YMCA of Centre County’s Anti-Hunger Program has been distributing meals for the past 17 years. The 2021 Summer Lunch will start when schools are dismissed for the summer break.

One in seven children in the United States wakes up facing hunger every day, which can lead to poor nutrition, more frequent illnesses, inability to concentrate, and many other health and behavioral issues. Together, with local school districts and members of our community, the YMCA of Centre County continues to expand and enhance its anti-hunger initiatives.

The Moshannon Valley YMCA began the Summer Lunch Program in 2004, serving children at four locations in the Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District. Now, the program serves children at locations in Bald Eagle, Bellefonte, Moshannon Valley, Penns Valley, Philipsburg-Osceola, and West Branch Area, and State College School Districts

The YMCA’s Summer Lunch Program is open to children up to age 18 at no cost. All summer sites will once again be Drop & Go Sites. Parents may stop and pick the food up for the children to take home. The lunch menu is posted each week on the YMCA website as well as YMCA of Centre County Backpack page on Facebook. All meals meet USDA nutrition standards and are served with milk. The YMCA of Centre County serves as a Summer Food Service Provider sponsor under the oversight of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The Summer Lunch Program fills a void that many students face when they are not in school to receive lunch. It also provides them with an opportunity to get out of the house and interact with other children and families. Many children walk or bike to the sites, and many sites are located near parks or playgrounds for physical activity before or after. Information on all feeding sites and times, will be sent to the schools to be passed out prior to the school year ending.

Volunteer Information

If you would like to volunteer at any of our sites or warehouse, please email: [email protected]. In your message, please include the following information: Name, phone #, email address, the school district/community area that you are willing to volunteer in, and what type of volunteer work you are willing to do (transport food to sites, volunteer at sites, volunteer for packing, or volunteer to pick-up donation). We have received a tremendous response from our community, and we want to make sure we are responding to everyone. Volunteers will only be working in small groups and will be required to wear a mask.

For More Information:

Mel Curtis – 814-342-0889 or email [email protected]

All eligible children (those under the age of 18), have equal access to the benefits of these programs regardless of family income, race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. No child is turned away. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410. By fax: (202) 690-7442; or by email: [email protected]. The YMCA of Centre County is an equal opportunity provider.