BY DAVID MCKEOWN
Helping Harvest, which serves residents of Schuylkill and Berks counties, has set up mobile distribution sites where the public can walk or drive to receive food.
“We know that we have more people in need than our traditional food pantry system can help,” Helping Harvest President Jay Worrall said. “So we are doing these supplemental Mobile Markets to help with the volume.”
Worrall said the Mobile Market in Pottsville will continue in the future, with the next market to be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 21.
Plans are also in place to open another Mobile Market from 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 23 and Dec. 23 in Girardville. This will be the fourth Mobile Market site in the county.
Other Mobile Markets operate at Family Dollar, 139 W. Centre St., in Mahanoy City on the first Friday of the month and at the Auburn municipal building, 451 Pearson St., on the third Wednesday.
Worrall said they plan to continue these markets but will reevaluate the need as time goes on.
Currently, they are doing about a million pounds of food every month, which is more than double what they did last year, according to Worrall.
“We are trying to make sure people get what they need, especially with the holiday season,” Worrall said.
Those looking to volunteer or make a donation to Helping Harvest can visit its website at helpingharvest.org.
