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Love Center hits record number of senior boxes

JERSEY SHORE — The New Love Center Food Pantry distributed 105 boxes of food to senior citizens in March. That’s the first time the center has distributed more than 100 senior boxes, and new applications are continuing to arrive monthly, according to officials.

Also in March, 1,270 pounds of food were donated, including 646 pounds of mixed meats and other items from Weis Market, 15 pounds of mixed meats and other items from Lingle’s Market, and donations from churches, organizations and individuals totaling 609 pounds. The cafe received 114 pounds of food in March.

Monthly donation needs are: for April — one-pound bags of rice; May — 16-ounce jars of peanut butter; June — any flavor Jell-O, and July — 16-ounce jars of peanut butter.

There was a slight increase in numbers of people served in March. While Clinton County numbers dropped slightly, Lycoming County numbers increased by 30 families in the 19- to 59-year-old age group.

The report for March shows that 900 people from Clinton and Lycoming counties were served; there were 30 new clients; 394 households were served; 269 volunteers worked 866 hours; and 17 people donated $1,450 during the Raise the Region event.

Also, the center reported the Education Support Funding Program (ESFP) homeless grant has been completed. The center now has three sleeping bags and plenty of blessing bags to distribute to homeless people, as well as two propane tanks.

The center has applied for $2,000 from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank for the backpack program in schools. This year, the center spent $8,262 on food for the backpack program. Based on the projected 6,300 bags of food distributed, it comes out to $1.31 per bag. Two students in the program have left the school district, so 173 backpacks are distributed each week. The backpacks contain food for the weekend.

Using 140 students in the Jersey Shore Summer Recreation Program, it’s estimated the Love Center will spend $1,468 for backpack lunches for the children participating.

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