Harrisburg Area Food Pantry | Harrisburg, PA

November Update

Dear Friends:

It has been a beautiful fall in central Pennsylvania! As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, the Ecumenical Food Pantry (EFP) has much to be thankful for – especially the support of our community partners, donors and volunteers.

Although external factors contributed to the EFP seeing a decrease in clients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a steady increase in the number of individuals seeking emergency food assistance in recent months. We know there are many families in need in the greater Harrisburg area who do not know that the EFP is a resource for them. We are working hard to publicize the availability of the EFP and would appreciate your efforts in helping us spread the word. We can provide your organization with EFP flyers, business cards and other items if helpful for those purposes.

Earlier this fall, we surveyed clients to ensure the EFP is doing its best to meet their needs. Not surprisingly, clients emphasized that they particularly enjoy receiving fresh fruits and vegetables. These responses underscore the importance of our ongoing efforts to seek out additional sources for healthy food options. To that end, we have partnered with Spiral Path Farm in Perry County, which provided us with fresh produce, as available, throughout the fall. We also are exploring equipment upgrades to strengthen our capacity to best store food and facilitate client choice. We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded a World Hunger Legacy Grant from the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to support these efforts.

The EFP thrives through the generosity of its community partners and volunteers, including at these recent events:

  • On October 23, 2021, the Friends of Midtown hosted a personal care item (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.) drive for the EFP.
  • On November 6, 2021, the Paxtang Lions Club sponsored its annual food drive to benefit the EFP, collecting an impressive 1,500 pounds of food.
  • On November 13, 2021, the EFP received 1,600 pounds of potatoes through the Grace United Methodist Church Potato Drop.

    Mark your calendars! The EFP will be holding its 2nd Annual Harvest Golf Tournament on May 16, 2022, at Dauphin Highlands Golf Course. Please be on the lookout for registration and sponsorship information, which will be posted to our website (www.efoodpantry.org) in the coming weeks.

The EFP is always looking for new volunteers. We need volunteers to serve clients during pantry operating hours, but also have flexible “off-hour” opportunities for drivers, stockers, bag packers and more. Volunteering at the EFP is a wonderful way to support neighbors in need, while getting to know others who are serving our community. Please visit our volunteer page for more information.

As you may know, GivingTuesday is a global day of generosity taking place on November 30, 2021. If you plan to participate on GivingTuesday, please consider the EFP. Donations can be made through our website and by mail.

Please follow us on Instagram (e_food_pantry) and like us on Facebook (@ecumenicalfoodpantryharrisburg) for additional updates. If you have any questions, please reach out using the “Contact Us” page on our website.

With gratitude and best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving,

Phil Mackey, Board Chair

Harrisburg Area Food Pantry | Harrisburg, PA

Fall 2021 Update

October 2021

Greetings volunteers!  Hope you all had a great summer. Welcome to fall!  Here is what is happening at the Ecumenical Food Pantry (EFP):  

New Mission Statement

The EFP board adopted a new Mission Statement.

“The Ecumenical Food Pantry supports those in the greater Harrisburg area who are experiencing food insecurity, primarily through provision of emergency food assistance”.

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Paulus Mt. Airy Orchard Blueberry Festival

On Saturday July 17 Paulus Mt. Airy Orchard hosted its summer Blueberry Festival and the EFP was the designated non profit organization to receive a portion of the sales.  Several EFP volunteers made pancakes, served breakfast, and provided EFP information to hundreds of attendees.  $2400 was raised for the EFP! We are very appreciative of the support of Paulus Mt. Airy Orchard.  In return the EFP encourages all volunteers to support this business. Address below. 

Paulus Orchards is located at 522 E. Mt. Airy Road, Dillsburg PA  17019, a short distance from Ski Roundtop.

Outreach

Members of the EFP Board visited Hamilton Health Center on Sept 22 to share information about the EFP and to offer sample food bags to 75 people. All in an effort to raise awareness in the community about the EFP.  In addition, laundromats in the city were visited to post EFP information.  More events are being discussed with Hamilton Health.  

Executive Director

Deidre Lenker has been very active the last few months in community outreach, grant seeking, and general operations.  Already seeing an upward trend in clients and community recognition and support.

Welcome Returning Volunteers!

Our client numbers have been trending upward recently and EFP volunteers have been working hard to meet the demand.  There is always plenty to do to help the EFP.  It is amazing to see so many proactive volunteers each day.  We are happy to see many new volunteers but also very glad to see returning volunteers.  EFP is very thankful for all the volunteers who help keep us focused on the mission to serve those in need.  See link below for opportunities to serve.

https://www.timetosignup.com/ecumenfoodpantryhbg/

We are going to be 50!

The EFP was established in response to the damage caused by Tropical Agnes in the summer of 1972.  In 2022, we will be celebrating our 50th anniversary!  Stay tuned for further details.   

Events

On October 23 we will host the semi annual Friends of Midtown/EFP Personal Item Drive from 9-1. This event has been very successful in the past.  We thank FOM for all the support!  On November 6 we will be working with Paxtang Lions on a Food Drive.  Historically a significant amount of food is generously donated that day.   It is amazing to see volunteers step up and help with these events.  

Potato Drop

Our clients often share that they would appreciate receiving more fresh (or frozen) produce.  Potatoes are a popular option, in part because they store well.  On November 13, we will be receiving hundreds of pounds of potatoes through the generous Grace United Methodist Church Potato Drop operation.  We will need several volunteers to assist with unloading the potatoes that day and packing them into 5-pound bags.  Please use the volunteer link above to sign up!

Golf Tournament

The 2nd Annual EFP Harvest Golf Tournament will be held May 16, 2022 at Dauphin Highlands Golf Course.  Last year’s event was very successful as it sold out.  Looking for an even greater event is 2022.  Stay tuned for further details.

Saturday Hours

Recent feedback from the community is that alternate hours would be beneficial.  As a result, we are now open the 3rd Saturday of each month.  We will be open October 16, November 20, and December 18.  All 9:30-12:30.

Strategic Planning

As you may be aware, the EFP board is engaging in a strategic planning effort to serve as a high level roadmap for our future.  If you would like to learn more about our strategic planning process and resultant priorities, you are welcome to attend a discussion session on October 20 at 1pm in the Gathering space at the church.  Please email Amy Foerstrer (amycfoerster@gmail.com) if you plan to attend or if you have any questions but are unable to attend.  

New EFP Board Members

We have added two new members to our board.  Judy Baumgardner and Wendy Fellinger have been accepted to the EFP Board. Both provide a strong background and sincere desire to serve those in need.  We are very fortunate to have them as part of the leadership team.

If you are interested in an opportunity on the EFP board please contact Phil Mackey pmackey58@gmail.com to discuss possibilities.  

EFP Shirt sales

Solve the dilemma of what to wear on a volunteer day.  We have a limited supply of cotton, short sleeve t-shirts and golf shirts for sale, with the possibility of ordering more if they are in demand.  T-shirts are $15 and golf shirts are $28.   If interested, please email Amy Foerster at amycfoerster@gmail.com  with your size preferences to check on availability.  

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Paper Bags Needed

The EFP is getting greener and moving away from single use plastic grocery bags for personal care and cold food items.  We welcome donations of brown bags in all sizes, particularly handled ones, if they are clean and not torn.  We also need reusable cloth or mesh bags, biodegradable bags,and unwanted backpacks. Clients find them handy to transport food home especially if public transportation is utilized.   

Follow us, like us, check us out!

The EFP is on Facebook:  The Ecumenical Food Pantry Harrisburg – @ecumenicalfoodpantryharrisburg

Instagram:  Ecumenical Food Pantry (Hbg) –  e_food_pantry

Website:  www.efoodpantry.org

Harrisburg Area Food Pantry | Harrisburg, PA

New Select Saturday Food Pantry Hours

We are pleased to announce that the Food Pantry will be open on third Saturdays of each month. The following days and hours are scheduled.

September 18   9:30-12:30
October 16        9:30-12:30
November 20.   9:30-12:30
December 18.   9:30-12:20

Harrisburg Area Food Pantry | Harrisburg, PA

Summer Update

Dear Friends:

I hope you have been enjoying our summer here in central Pennsylvania. It has been a busy time for the Ecumenical Food Pantry (EFP), as we continue to fulfill our mission of providing emergency food assistance to people in the greater Harrisburg area. With fall just around the corner, I want to take a moment to update you on exciting developments at the EFP, and to thank our generous donors and volunteers.

We held our inaugural Harvest Golf Tournament on May 24, 2021, at Sunset Golf Course. With 132 golfers, as well as 25 sponsors and donors, it was a huge success! Cool weather and a little rain did not dampen anyone’s enthusiasm for supporting the EFP’s work. We are already planning ahead for next year’s EFP Harvest Golf Tournament, which will be held on May 16, 2022, at Dauphin Highlands Golf Course.

Continuing its generous support for our community, Paulus Mt. Airy Orchards held its Blueberry Festival on July 17, 2021, with proceeds benefiting the EFP. The event included not only a delicious pancake breakfast, but also displays by talented artisans. We are grateful to Paulus Mt. Airy Orchards and all who attended the event for their generosity.

The EFP is delighted to have been one of the charities supported by Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Camp Hill’s Christmas in July. A special thank you to those who donated to the EFP through this fun “off-season” effort.

Please mark your calendars! On Saturday, October 23, 2021, we will again be partnering with our neighbors, the Friends of Midtown, as they host a personal care item (e.g., soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.) drive for the EFP. Because we cannot use grant funds to purchase such items, this targeted effort is essential to ensuring we can provide these important supplies to our clients.

We have many developments to share on the EFP board and staffing front. Our new board officers took over the helm beginning July 1. Please visit our website for a full listing of board members. Additionally, although the EFP remains a volunteer-led organization, we are pleased to announce that Deidre Lenker has been named the EFP’s first Executive Director. Deidre’s hiring – combined with the board’s current strategic planning effort – demonstrates our ongoing commitment to a thriving future for the EFP.

The EFP recently added select Saturday hours to its current schedule of 9:30 am – 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday. We rely on volunteers to serve clients during these shifts and to carry out other food pantry functions throughout the week. We are always in need of – and warmly welcome – new volunteers. Individuals can sign up as frequently or infrequently as their schedules allow, and we are happy to accommodate church groups who wish to take an entire shift on a regular basis. Volunteering at the EFP is a wonderful opportunity not only to support neighbors in need, but also to meet other individuals serving our community. Please visit our volunteer page for more information.

Finally, please follow us on Instagram (e_food_pantry) and like us on Facebook (@ecumenicalfoodpantryharrisburg) for additional updates!

With gratitude,
Phil Mackey, Board Chair

Paulus Mt. Airy Orchard for a very generous donation of $2,500 to the Ecumenical Food Pantry

Thank You Paulus Mt. Airy Orchard & The Blueberry Festival!

We are deeply appreciative of Paulus Mt. Airy Orchard for a very generous donation of $2,500 to the Ecumenical Food Pantry. The Blueberry Festival held July 17, 2021 was very successful. Several EFP volunteers assisted during the day making pancakes and serving food to hundred of attendees. This donation will assist the EFP to help those in need.

Harrisburg Area Food Pantry | Harrisburg, PA

EFP Hires First Executive Director

The Ecumenical Food Pantry Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Deidre Lenker has been named the food pantry’s first Executive Director. Although the EFP remains a volunteer-led and operated organization – as it has been for 49 years – Deidre’s hiring demonstrates the Board’s commitment to a thriving future for the EFP. Serving in a part-time capacity, Deidre will collaborate with the board to support operations, strengthen community partnerships, and pursue and administer grant funding.

Deidre has been a long-time member of Messiah Lutheran Church and supporter of the EFP. She joined the EFP volunteer team in 2019. Deidre has served the Harrisburg community in many volunteer capacities, including with CONTACT Helpline, the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg and through community outreach for Messiah Lutheran Church. Prior to assuming the Executive Director position, Deidre worked extensively in the human resources field, holding leadership and consulting roles with both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Ecumenical Food Pantry Golf Tournament

Save the Date for the 2nd Annual Harvest Golf Tournament – May 16, 2022

Save the Date for the 2nd Annual Harvest Golf Tournament – May 16, 2022. Our 2022 Golf tournament will be on May 16, 2022 at Dauphin Highlands.

Hope to see everyone there!

 

Blueberry Festival benefits the Ecumenical Food Pantry in Harrisburg

The Blueberry Festival Benefits the Ecumenical Food Pantry in Harrisburg

Blueberry Festival (7am-1pm)

Saturday, July 17, 2021
Pancake Breakfast (served until 11am)
$9.99/breakfast (20% is being donated to Food Pantry)

PlayLand Admission:  $7.99 General Admission or $9.99 Enhanced Admission

Blueberry Festival Events:

  • Pancake Breakfast (3 blueberry or plain pancakes, scrambled eggs, ham, fruit, and a large coffee or juice), 7am-11am, Purchase Tickets Here
  • Craft Show with over 60 local artisans, 7am-1pm
  • Live Music, JazzMe Band, 9:30am-12:30pm
  • Pick-Your-Own Berries, 7am-6pm
  • PlayLand, 9am-6pm

The Blueberry Festival benefits the Ecumenical Food Pantry in Harrisburg. The food pantry will receive $2 for every breakfast ticket.

Ecumenical Food Pantry | Harvest Golf Tournament | Charity

1st Annual Harvest Golf Tournament

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