The Erie News Now Food Drive is just hours away and many people in the Erie community will benefit from the donations, including local food pantries.
For the last twelve years, Glenwood Methodist Church has been helping feed community members with their food pantry.
Anne Marie Ernst, the Food Pantry Coordinator for Glenwood Methodist Church said, "We are going from about 65 families every two weeks to about 90 with about ten new households signing up each week we have it."
Their Monday evening distributions allows people to put a warm meal on their tables. This wouldn't be possible without the generosity from the church community and Second Harvest Food Bank. "Second Harvest is invaluable to both our food pantry as well as the community. I have worked with a couple other food pantries, either assisting them or starting up and Second Harvest is always there. The food there is cheaper than I could ever purchase outside of those walls", said Ernst.
Glenwood Methodist Church isn't the only organization that benefits from Second Harvest Food Bank. St. Paul's Lutheran Church recently launched their food pantry and they have been getting help from thee food bank as well.
Although a new food pantry, volunteers have seen their numbers grow since they opened their doors in August.
Cindy Dohanic, the Food Pantry Coordinator explained how their food pantry operates, "We do bags. We pack bags. I will always do produce, whatever we have, the milk, the eggs, the butter, a couple meats, and then we try to come up with three to four meals."
Tuesday was their pick up and sorting day from the food bank in anticipation of their distribution on Thursday. Volunteers said without the food bank, they wouldn't be able to serve community members that are struggling.
As Dohanic explained, "I don't think the people of Northwest Pennsylvania would have this kind of food to give away if it weren't for Second Harvest"
St. Paul's Lutheran Church's monthly distribution is this Thursday from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Meantime, Glenwood Methodist Church is having a Thanksgiving meal distribution on Saturday morning from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. for those that signed up, but they will be giving away any extras they have.