LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Those in need of a meal can visit The Old Corner Bottle Shop to grab a cold sub, chips and a drink purchased through donations to the business’s Hunger Board.

LOCK HAVEN — Helping those in need within the Lock Haven community is a passion for Shaun Dale and his wife, Lara, owners of the Old Corner Restaurant and Bottle Shop.

The couple, who purchased the staple business that’s been in the community well over 100 years, are always looking for ways to give back.

After a visit to a restaurant in the Bellefonte area about a year ago, they discovered another way to do so — creating a Hunger Board.

Dale said he and Lara had taken notice of the board at the restaurant and thought it was a nice gesture. Patrons were able to pay for a meal and have the ticket placed on the board, where an individual in need of food could get the ticket.

After talking with the restaurant owner, Dale said he told his wife the idea was something they should implement.

Eventually, they settled on a $6 donation for the purchase of a cold sub, a bag of chips and a drink.

“We sell tickets for $6 and print them out and hang them on the board (in the Bottle Shop). If someone is in need, they can take one so at least they have something to eat that day,” Dale said.

He explained this was a way he felt they could give back to the community.

“Being a business owner in this town, I’m here almost seven days a week. I see people in need — whether in the summer walking around and stopping at outdoor concerts or in line at the Salvation Army down the street,” he said.

Dale said he was fortunate enough in his life to grow up having his needs met such as clothing, food and a roof over his head.

“Now that I’m older, I see in the community that not everyone has that,” he said, emphasizing his mission to try and help in what ways he can.

Since beginning the program in mid-September, 404 tickets have been purchased and 391 of them have already been used.

“The community support is overwhelming,” Dale said. “Given the economic conditions — the government shutdown and loss of SNAP benefits for some for a time — we saw an influx of people in need using those tickets for those seven weeks.”

Dale said seeing the community’s support for the new program was humbling for him.

He noted he and his wife rely on the community’s support to keep their business alive and well, and it feels good to see those same people have a positive reaction to this program.

“It was something my wife and I wanted to do to give back to the community. When people see you doing that, they support it. It makes me feel thankful and grateful,” he said.

Dale told The Express he has no intentions of stopping the meal program.

“I plan on keeping the board up for as long as the community supports it,” he said.

He noted there may come times when there are less tickets available than others, but encouraged those in need of a meal — or in need of a meal for their children — to consider stopping by the bottle shop to see if tickets are available.

The Old Corner Grill and Bottle Shop is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. until 12 a.m., each day.