Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Donates $20,000 to Support Local Food Programs: Transforming Community Nourishment

The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is doing great work for families in need. They recently approved a $20,000 donation to support four food programs across the county, all funded by the CCCF Basic Needs Fund. This fund was created to help address crucial needs in the community, focusing on food security.

One standout initiative is the Clearfield Area Backpack Program. Launched in November 2024, this program was developed through a partnership between Mel Curtis from the YMCA of Centre County and Amy Lezzer from the Clearfield community. They aim to raise awareness about food insecurity among children, which can hit families hard during tough times—like job losses or unexpected expenses.

“We’re currently distributing 235 backpacks every week at Clearfield Elementary,” shared Mrs. Lezzer. Each backpack contains meals and snacks to cover two days. They hope to grow this program to include middle and high school students. Funding from the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation will help them achieve this.

Mr. Curtis mentioned that while their current efforts are new, the YMCA’s Anti-Hunger Program has been distributing backpacks since 2014. They started small, with just 33 backpacks but now provide 1,625 every week across various school districts.

Each of the other three programs receiving $5,000 also aims to combat food insecurity. The YMCA of Centre County will use its funds for local food bank operations, while Central Pennsylvania Community Action will bolster their food bank resources in multiple Clearfield communities. CenClear will support its Lightner Food Bank program, which serves areas like Coalport and Beccaria Township.

CCCF Chairman Jeb Soult emphasized the foundation’s commitment to alleviating food insecurity, especially among children and in rural areas. The board is optimistic about the volunteers’ efforts and wishes the funded programs success in their important work.

The leaders from CenClear and Central Pennsylvania Community Action expressed gratitude for the support, highlighting how these donations will enhance their services and community outreach.

According to recent data, nearly 13 million children in the U.S. are food insecure, demonstrating the ongoing need for programs like these. Community support is vital in making a difference.

For more details about the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation and ways to support their efforts, you can visit their official website here.

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