The YWCA Food Pantry is appealing to the Bradford community for
help due to dwindling supplies and soaring demand.

“People are doing food drives at Christmastime and Thanksgiving
because they’re thinking about giving,” said Executive Director Amy
Pierce. “But this time of year, people are thinking about summer
vacation.”

The need continues all year round, she said.

“We appreciate the food drives at holiday time,” she said, “but
we have those same to people to help in the summer.”

Pierce estimates turnout at 40 to 50 families a week and about
150 families a month. This often means at least 300 people a month
need food.

The YWCA’s Dan Green has worked in the food pantry since he
started at the shelter nine years ago and is wary of the high
demand.

“I’m in charge of doing the orders,” he said. “It’s a
challenge.”

“Numbers, as far as new people, are way up.”

Green explained that this increase has forced him to cut out
certain foods from the YWCA’s growing grocery list, such as jelly
and ground meat.

“I need to have at least 150 cans of peanut butters a month, 150
cans of spaghetti sauce a month,” he said.

Food that the pantry commonly stock include peanut butter,
“Hamburger Helper” dinner kits, tuna fish, pasta, spaghetti sauce,
instant potatoes, cereal, soup and canned vegetables.

“We try to have a few meals in there instead of just a bunch of
mismatched stuff,” Green said. The shelter tries to keep a
collection of the same foods on a consistent basis.

“We have the facilities to accommodate all kinds of food,” Green
said, adding that the pantry has a walk-in freezer.

But, according to Pierce, U.S. Department of Agriculture
donations have decreased in the past year, making it harder to keep
the pantry filled.

“Federal funding for social services all over the place, not
just food pantries, are being lowered,” she said.

“We’re struggling … to adjust to that and provide services as
needed.”

Besides the USDA, the YWCA also gets monetary help from McKean
County and the United Way.

“The donations from the community help supplement that,” Pierce
said.

That’s why the YWCA is seeking aid from area residents.

“I did have one farmer call me about donating fresh produce.
We’re looking for ways to accommodate him,” Green said.

He cautioned that it’s best to give fresh produce on a Tuesday
or Wednesday morning since the pantry is open on Wednesday
afternoons. This will ensure the goods are still fresh and are not
wasted.

Food distribution takes place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. each
Wednesday at the YWCA, located at 24 W. Corydon St.

Donations can be dropped off on weekdays during work hours. For
more information on how to help, contact the YWCA Food Pantry.