State College Food Bank Takes on Growing Community Need

With the holiday season upon us, the State College Food Bank has been working to tackle the escalating issue of food insecurity in Centre County.

Allayn Beck, the executive director, highlighted the changing landscape of food insecurity across the county, emphasizing a notable increase in the region.

“We are definitely seeing an overall increase across the county, and there’s definitely a big bump in individuals and families who don’t meet those typical kind of government program guidelines,” Beck said.

“It’s an expensive place to live, and the cost of food, housing and transportation is hard.”

Beck attributed part of the rising need to the rollback of SNAP benefits earlier this year, revealing a staggering 77% increase in demand for the food bank’s services from last year.

In response, the food bank has been implementing projects to reach out to those facing food insecurity.

“Since the pandemic, we have done a lot of intentional programming and outreach to reach more people, break down stigmas and hopefully help and catch more people that are fighting food insecurity,” Beck said.

“So, my hope is that all those intentional things we have done, are working on, is why we’re seeing an increase in people coming through our doors.”

With the holiday season adding financial strain, Beck acknowledged the challenges faced by individuals and families.

“You get a lot of things thrown at you at the end of the year. Heating bills go up, families are paying for holiday celebrations and the additional costs can make it harder for individuals and families,” she explained.

She added that the parents of kids who often rely on school breakfasts and lunches have to cover those costs while the kids are on break, contributing further to financial strain during the holidays.

Despite typically seeing heightened demand during the holidays, Beck noted that this year’s demand has been consistently high since the spring, equivalent to the usual holiday peak in other years.

“I would say the need grows in November and December. I would go as far as to say the majority of the other pantries in the area would agree with me. So, there’s definitely an increase in need,” Beck said.

Beck emphasized that food insecurity issues extend beyond the holiday season.

“Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean food insecurity is over,” she stated.

“I just encourage everyone to keep the warmth in their heart that they find during this time of year and want to share and continue it throughout the rest of the year because it’s still needed in January, February, July and more.”

The State College Food Bank is undergoing changes and initiating programs to help address the growing need in the area and to better serve the community. One of those changes is a move to a new facility in the early spring of 2024.

Beck highlighted the move to a larger facility as a crucial step in expanding the food bank’s capacity.

“We’re going from 10,000 square feet to almost 20,000 square feet. So, we are going to have the capacity to serve who we’re already serving and more,” she explained.

“Then, on top of that, we’re going to have a big warehouse and that is going to enable us to help the rest of the county in a different way.”

Beck added that the addition of the warehouse provides an opportunity for the food bank to act as a food distribution center for the county. The space allows for cold storage, receiving tractor-trailers, ordering in bulk and more.

To continue serving the community effectively, the State College Food Bank actively seeks support from the community.

Beck emphasized that every contribution matters — whether through financial donations, hosting food drives or volunteering time.

“Something as simple as helping share our social media posts. That doesn’t cost anybody anything other than maybe time,” Beck said.

“Helping spread awareness that food insecurity is a problem in this county, and it is a growing need. The more people that know what’s happening, the more can step up to help. So that awareness piece is just as helpful and important.”

The food bank currently has just over 80 people who volunteer weekly, and Beck pointed out that they will certainly need more volunteers when the food bank moves into its new facility in the spring.

Looking ahead, Beck emphasized the food bank’s goals for the new year, focusing on growth, partnerships with regional organizations, cultural responsiveness and a commitment to providing a variety of healthy foods and nutrition education.

As the State College Food Bank prepares for its move to a new facility in early spring, the organization looks forward to better serving the community’s growing needs and continuing to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families facing food insecurity in Centre County.

For more information on how to contribute or get involved, visit the State College Food Bank’s website at scfoodbank.org.