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Along with food, the local food bank has had a real need for more space and easier access for clients and volunteers.
"Our prayers were answered when St. Paul's United Methodist Church offered us an unused room in their basement," said Ruth Cashwiler, food bank treasurer.
She said the food bank expects to distribute food from the new location at 105 W. Main St. in Terre Hill after Thanksgiving. The food bank currently is housed in the upstairs of the Terre Hill borough building, at 300 Broad St.
The new site is "an ideal location that provides more space not only to store the food, but also to pack and distribute it," said Jean Good, food bank coordinator.
Dixie Adams, a church member and food bank volunteer, said the church saw the "treasure" of having a food bank in the building.
"We see it as being part of our outreach program to fulfill an opportunity to help others in the broader community," Adams said.
Now that they have the space, Cashwiler said, they are looking forward to a successful Scout food drive taking place on Saturday. Scouting for Food is a national food drive promoted by the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts collect food for their local community's food bank.
"The annual food drive brings in the largest collection of items for the food bank," she said.
The Northeastern Lancaster County Food Bank was started in 1991 by the Terre Hill Ministerium. It's mission is to "exercise the commandment of Jesus Christ … to love your neighbor as yourself."
The food bank consists of volunteers from 11 local churches: Berean Bible Fellowship, Bethany Grace Fellowship, Bowmansville Mennonite, Cocalico Community Chapel, Pine Grove, St. John's Center United Church of Christ, St. John Center Lutheran, St. Paul's United Methodist, St. Paul's U.C.C., Trinity Evangelical Congregational and Weaverland Mennonite.
The food bank serves people in portions of Earl, East Earl, Brecknock and Caernarvon townships and Terre Hill borough.
Good said the food is distributed by referral only from Ephrata Area Social Services. On average, she said, the local food bank distributes 40 to 50 boxes of food each quarter.
Volunteers from the churches help to pack and distribute the food boxes to clients, who pick them up on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 3 p.m.
"Clients get several hundreds of dollars worth of food, plus vouchers for $20. The number of vouchers depends on the family size," Good said.
Along with the food drive, Cashwiler said cash and food is received during the year from churches, businesses and organizations.
Nonperishable items needed by the food bank include canned fruits, vegetables, juices, soups, peanut butter, jelly, cereal and pasta.
