The New Love Center continues to work every day to fight and end hunger as it exists in the regions it serves. With six active and regularly scheduled programs, each tailored to address a particular segment of the population, the Center donates 5263 pounds of food every month. This is especially relevant now as the COVID 19 pandemic reaches across the central / north central region of Pennsylvania.

The six programs which include: The Food Pantry, The Café, Military Shares, Elder Share, The PB&J Program and the backpack program, have been instrumental in helping those in need bridge the food gap that has become more prevalent and more disruptive to those in need. “While the New Love Center has been here working hard every day for the past 5 years, it is the past few weeks where we have truly been called to help our friends and neighbors.”, according to the Center’s Alice Fox. “We have seen a need at both of our locations the New Love Center Food Pantry on Broad Street and the New Love Café hot meals program at the Trinity United Methodist Church on Allegheny Street, both in Jersey Shore. The people of our region need our help, now, more than ever.”

The New Love Center unquestionably has risen to the challenge of the COVID 19 epidemic, but even before this unprecedented few weeks, the Center had served over 4,700 households in Clinton and Lycoming Counties. That means program totals of 875 people served each month by a yearly total of over 3,200 volunteer hours.
The New Love Center’s six areas of focus are:

The Pantry – Food Bank
When: the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, 9 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Where: St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 229 S. Broad Street, Jersey Shore. Contact Phone: 570-772-3275.
Who: The distribution area includes: Linden, Jersey Shore, Nippenose Valley, Waterville, Cammal, Slate Run, Avis, Woolrich, McElhattan and Lock Haven.

The Café – Hot, Nutritious and Varied Meal Selection. ServSafe Certified. NOW utilizing TAKE OUT and DELIVERIES.
When: Monday through Friday with Lunch at 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Where: Trinity United Methodist Church, 1407 Allegheny Street, Jersey Shore. Contact Phone: 570-244-8839.
Who: Open to the public at no cost.

Military Shares – Run by American Legion George W. Pepperman, Post #36 Home Associations
When: Third Thursday of the month, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Approximately 110 boxes of food to local veterans.
Where: 320 Seminary Street, Jersey Shore, PA.
Who: Open to Military Veterans with Military I.D.

Elder Share – Senior food boxes for those over 60
When: the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, 9 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Where: St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 229 S. Broad Street, Jersey Shore. Contact Phone: 570-772-3275.
Who: The distribution area includes: Linden, Jersey Shore, Nippenose Valley, Waterville, Cammal, Slate Run, Avis, Woolrich, McElhattan and Lock Haven. For senior citizens who meet financial guidelines

Backpack Program – Over 400 backpacks delivered weekly to school students
When: Every Friday During School.
Where: Coordinated by the volunteers at Phelps Chapel and Tri-County Church Northeast Campus.
Who: for Elementary and Middle School students of the Jersey Shore Area School District and Bucktail Area Schools in Renovo.
Contact: Ken Bowers for Jersey Shore: kcbowers1@yahoo.com and Kristy Eichenlaub for Renovo Keichenlaub219@yahoo.com

PB&J Program – A jar of peanut butter, jelly and a loaf of bread
When: Once per Month 3rd Monday of the month, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. and 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Where: St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 229 S. Broad Street, Jersey Shore.
Who: A cart will be outside of the double glass doors. Please pull up and take one bag per family.

Additionally, the following programs have recently been added:

Pop Up Food Pantry – Food Pantry
When: Every other Thursday at 2 p.m.
Where: The parking Lot of the STEP Office at 124 Walnut Street in Lock Haven. Contact: 570-772-3275.
Who: for residents of Lock Haven and surrounding communities.

Pop Up Food Pantry – Food Pantry
When: Every other Friday at 2 p.m.
Where: The Renovo Fire Hall, 230 11th Street, Renovo. Contact: 570-772-3275.
Who: for residents of Renovo and surrounding communities.

The New Love Center’s past and future success depends heavily upon monetary and food donations. As a nonprofit any donations can be made through their website thenewlovecenter.com. Funding is critical to fuel their far-reaching community efforts and those who can give and want to make a difference are encouraged to make a donation via the website. A second component is to donate time. Anyone over the age of 13 can volunteer and with a total of over 3,200 volunteer hours it is clear that volunteerism is a critical component of the mission of the New Love Center.

From New Love Center Vice President Dave Winkleman, “Now, more than ever, the mission of the New Love Center is needed. Having established ourselves as a critical link in the chain of community unity before the COVID 19 episodes we are prepared to face the future. In this great time of need, with the help, the love and the support of our community volunteers, the Center is well positioned to continue to provide these life enriching and lifesaving services well into and through this difficult time.”

THE NEW LOVE CENTER

The New Love Center is a charitable non-profit organization that distributes food and meals to help reduce hunger in Lycoming and Clinton Counties. The phrase “Where the love of Christ provides for all”, embodies a faith based approach to helping those in need. For more information, to donate financially or to donate food, please visit http://www.thenewlovecenter.com, connect with them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenewlovecenter or call 570-772-3275.