MOUNT CARMEL - The holiday season is looming large, but many in the Mount Carmel area have more urgent things on their mind, like where their next meal is coming from.
Volunteers at the Mount Carmel Area Food Pantry, located at 26 N. Market St. in the former First Congregational Church, see that firsthand twice a month on their distribution days, and they realize the need will only increase during the holidays.
The food pantry distributes the first and third Thursday of each month.
"Some people lined up at 9 a.m. this morning," the Rev. Rose Marquardt said Thursday, the pantry's most recent distribution day. The pantry didn't open until two hours later.
Marquardt is on the board of directors at the food pantry and volunteers there.
"We average about 100 families every two weeks," Marquardt said.
Thirty-five new families registered Thursday.
The food pantry is reaching out for food and monetary donations to keep its shelves stocked through the holidays and beyond.
Board member and long-time volunteer Bernice Price has been writing letters to those businesses who do not already donate to the pantry.
"Anything. Any help we can get," Price said. "If you have food, I'll come and get it."
The pantry was packed wall-to-wall Thursday morning, with people bundled in winter clothing carrying empty boxes and pushing folding shopping carts to gather their goods.
The food is stored on shelves in the rear of the pantry. For now, it was full.
"All this will be gone next month," Marquardt said.
The pantry mainly needsstaples like peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti, macaroni, sauce, canned goods and soups.
The pantry operates strictly on donations and volunteers. The money it receives goes to purchase food at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. The pantry receives no government aid.
Individuals and families must register upon entering. Everyone is welcome, but they are required to prove that they live in the Mount Carmel area.
Marquardt attributes the increased need to the poor economy, lack of job opportunities, people being out of work and people losing their unemployment and increased cost of maintaining a basic existence.
"Many times, the people have to make the choice between food or heat," she said.
For more information on the Mount Carmel Area Food Pantry and to donate, contact Price at 570-373-1016.