PHOTO PROVIDED

While the federal government shutdown and Pennsylvania budget impasse might have ended on paper — cutting off or reducing benefits for various citizens — the need to help children, families and individuals, including senior citizens, is growing, according to representatives of various food banks and assistance programs locally. That’s why the Clinton County Community Foundation on Nov. 4 approved a total of $19,000 in emergency grants to seven nonprofits and programs distributing food to county residents. Representatives of those agencies were on hand Nov. 13 to receive their checks and talk about their services as hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Lock Haven at the Sons and Daughters of Italy Lodge. On hand were, from left in front, Holly Beaver, executive director of The New Love Center; Capt. Jaclyn Brewer of the Lock Haven Salvation Army; Martha Sykes of the Renovo Council of Churches Good Neighbor Center; Patty Jones of the Covenant United Methodist Church’s backpack program; Judy Briggs of the St. Paul’s Food Pantry, and Lorie Lohman of the Lock Haven YMCA Backpack program. In back row, from left, are Bob Rolley, outreach coordinator of the Community Foundation; Marlin Kreger of the Sugar Valley Lions Club Food Pantry; Pastor Justin Frear of Covenant United Methodist Church; Wayne McCullough of St. Paul’s Food Pantry and Bethann Bartlett of the Lock Haven YMCA. Each of the agency representatives explained the services their programs offer, collectively assisting thousands of children, families and individuals on a weekly and monthly basis.