$50,000 grant benefits food bank training center
With a health and wellness training center, the Greater Washington County Food Bank in Centerville Borough is not only a source of nourishment, but also of education.
A $50,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation will help support the training center, where free instruction on cooking, growing fruits and vegetables, tending a garden, canning and preserving and storing food is available to all Washington County residents.
“If we can help those we serve by not only providing them with the food they need, but teaching them how to make healthy meals out of the food they receive from us, then we are truly serving the needs of our community,” Connie S. Burd, executive director of the food bank, said in a news release.
Last year, the food bank distributed 2.7 million pounds of food, an increase from the 2 million pounds distributed the year before.
While those who are in immediate need are a priority, Heidi Hoffman said the organization also wants to assist those who suddenly find themselves in a vulnerable position, such as with an illness or job loss.
“I was blessed to have people in my life when I lost a (previous) job. A lot of people don’t have that,” said Hoffman, donor relations coordinator. “We want to be able to help people before they need it.”
In addition to cooking instruction, courses in finance, nutrition and health will be available in the center’s classroom and two kitchens.
The 24,500-square-foot facility at 909 National Pike West also includes a warehouse, administrative offices and a thrift store, and has room to develop 22 acres of land for planting crops. The grant from Walmart will aid in hiring a director to manage the training center and the outdoor gardening area.
“The Greater Washington County Food Bank is a community pillar, providing much-needed meals to some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community,” Walmart Marketing Manager Karen Kallam said in a news release. “By helping local families learn how to cook with nutritious ingredients – in some cases introducing them to fruits and vegetables to which they may have never had access before – the organization is also helping families make sustainable changes to improve the health and habits of future generations.”
The center is scheduled to open over the next few months, with classroom training beginning this month and cooking classes beginning in January.
As work on the training center is nearly complete, the goal of food bank officials is to raise the money to replace a large refrigerator truck, which delivers food to nearly 25 pantries across the county, in addition to senior living and food-assistance programs.
“Unfortunately, our need is increasing,” Hoffman said. “We’re feeding more people and sending out more food. We need a more reliable way to distribute.”
One source of funding is the thrift market, which opened Oct. 11 in the facility. Donations are accepted and then sold to benefit the pantry. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Those interested in enrolling in classes can call 724-632-2190. Organizations interested in offering training at the food bank can email Hoffman at donorrelations@gwcfb.org.