JACKSON CENTER, Pa. (WKBN) – The Mercer County Food Bank is expanding its reach to feed more people in the county.
In recent months, the food bank has been working with Vincent New Beginnings Church to set up a new food distribution site at the church in Jackson Center.
“Demographic statistics show this is the poorest zip code in Mercer County and it’s a food desert,” Pastor Janet Pratt said.
Rebecca Page, executive director of the Mercer County Food Bank, said the facility will help fill a gap in areas that currently don’t have food pantries.
“Jackson Center doesn’t have any institutions close to the area. It’s very rural and considered a food desert, which means there aren’t any grocery stores close by that sell fresh produce.”
They say one of the biggest barriers in the region is access to food.
“The only thing in that area is a dollar store,” Page said, “so to get to the grocery store you have to walk quite a distance.”
Transportation is also a problem.
“Food insecure people don’t necessarily have the money to travel to other food pantries,” Pratt said.
Setting up this food pantry will allow food to be delivered to those in need.
Food is distributed at the church by church volunteers on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
It plans to open next month and start serving meals to families.
“The folks at the food pantry have said they’ll start off slowly, maybe 50 families at first, but they expect that to grow quickly,” Pratt said.
Pratt says volunteers from the church are eager to start helping people.
“There’s nothing in the area that provides food for hungry people, so just having something more convenient in the area will be a great help to people.”
To receive food from the pantry, people must register, meet income requirements and live in Mercer County.
For more information about the food bank or to apply for assistance, visit the Mercer County Food Bank website
