St. Paul's Lutheran Church Food Pantry Distribution Kick Off

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Food can be expensive.  According to the department of human services, 1.7 million Pennsylvanians deal with food insecurity. To help those in our community who are struggling with filling their fridge, St. Paul's Lutheran Church launched their new food pantry distribution. 

"It's taken us several months to get everything together, and I think we've been excited, I think we've been anxious, I think we tried to make sure everything went well. We're anxious for people to come and get the food," Cindy Dohanic, one person with the food pantry team said.

The pantry is something they know can make a big impact.

“We used to have a blessing box over here on Homer Avenue. That would regularly be emptied and filled, and emptied and filled, and we know there is a need in this neighborhood and in this area for people. They don't have enough food,” Dohanic said. 

The pantry had over 40 bags of food to give out with pantry items and fresh produce.

“A lot of the produce is picked actually by Second Harvest staff, and it's all pretty much local. It’s really exciting to get some local produce to the neighbors in need,” Agency Relations personal with the Second Harvest Food Bank Myeisha Frost said.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church partnered with the second harvest food bank, and received a grant from the Erie Community Foundation. It also took lots of volunteers to put it all together.

“It was a group effort, and we had a member of the congregation who donated a refrigerator and freezer. We have members of the congregation that donate food. Every month, we ask for specific food that we may need like tuna fish or peanut butter, and they bring those items in for us as well,"  another individual with food pantry team for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Debbie DeCoursey said.