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. “We continue to be a force in the area of food insecurity, this new food hub will help us continue that mission”, according to the Center’s Alice Fox Cline. “Financial donations remain the cornerstone of our operation. We also need food donations and volunteers but it all works in tandem with financial gifts. Every little bit helps”.

The New Love Center unquestionably has risen to the challenge of the COVID 19 epidemic, but even before this unprecedented year of need, 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 3200 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, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Where: St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 229 S. Broad Street, Jersey Shore
Who: The distribution area includes: Linden, Jersey Shore, Nippenose Valley, Waterville, Cammal, Slate Run, Avis, Woolrich, McElhattan and Lock Haven.
Contact Phone: 570-244-8838

The Café – Hot, Nutritious and Varied Meal Selection. ServSafe Certified.
When: Monday through Friday with Lunch at 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Where: Trinity United Methodist Church, 1407 Allegheny Street, Jersey Shore
Who: Open to the public at no cost.
Contact Phone: 570-244-8838

Military Shares – Run by American Legion George W. Pepperman, Post #36 Home Associations
When: Third Thursday of the month, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Approximately 110 boxes of food to local veterans
Where: 320 Seminary Street, Jersey Shore, PA
Who: Open to Military Veterans with Military ID

Elder Share – Senior food boxes for those over 60
When: the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Where: St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 229 S. Broad Street, Jersey Shore
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
Contact Phone: 570-244-8838

Backpack Program – Over 400 back packs 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, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.-6:00 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: First Thursday at 2:00 p.m.
Where: The parking Lot of the STEP Office at 124 Walnut Street in Lock Haven
Who: for residents of Lock Haven and surrounding communities
Contact : 570-244-8838

Pop Up Food Pantry – Food Pantry
When: 3rd Friday at 2:00 p.m.
Where: The Renovo Fire Hall, 230 11th Street, Renovo
Who: for residents of Renovo and surrounding communities
Contact : 570-244-8838

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 3400 volunteer hours it is clear that volunteerism is a critical component of the mission of 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 570-244-8838.