"Nothing makes me happier than to see our clients," said Danielle Peters, director of the Columbia Food Bank, "but when someone says, 'You're not going to see me coming in here anymore,' that's music to my ears. Most people don't want to lose a client, but for us, that means they are back on their feet."

The Columbia Food Bank has been operating out of St. Paul Episcopal Church, 340 Locust St., for decades. "It started as an outreach of the church. The ladies did a hot lunch program over 40 years ago," Peters stated. "Very shortly after starting that, they realized something a little more was needed." The food bank began under the umbrella of the church, but in 2014, it became its own nonprofit organization, renting the space in the church's parish hall.

"We are not government supported at all," said Peters. "We depend on the kindness of the community to operate. We get donations from businesses, organizations and individuals." Groups including the Boy Scouts, who donate items collected through Scouting for Food, help to keep the shelves stocked with nonperishable items. The food bank relies on financial donations to provide ground beef, hot dogs, cheese, butter and eggs.

"We also get donations of breads and sweets from Giant and Weis," Peters commented. "We try to focus on healthy food, but every now and then, you need a cookie."

Potential clients need to show one form of ID to receive food, and anyone in Columbia, Mountville, West Hempfield or Manor Township is eligible to use the food bank. If someone from another area comes in, though, Peters won't turn him or her away.

"If you walk through those doors, you are going to walk out with groceries," she shared, adding that if someone is from outside the service area, she will direct them to their closest food bank for future visits. The food bank staff and volunteers also provide information upon request about other community resources, such as health care or employment services.

Peters credits her co-director, Suzanne Ollar, with keeping track of the food bank's numbers. From January through October of this year, the organization distributed more than 62,000 pounds of food, feeding 795 households and 1,863 individuals.

Clients can visit the food bank once a month, where they are given bags of food based on household size, along with toiletries such as soap, toothpaste or toilet paper.

"There is such a need for this right now," Peters said. "Rent is through the roof. Gas prices are high. Most of the people who come to us are working. They are just trying to feed their families."

Peters said the success of the food bank is due to the commitment of her volunteers and the generosity of the community. "I hate hearing the numbers of how much food we've given out, because when I hear them, I start to panic that we won't have enough," Peters said, but she finds comfort in the miracle of the loaves and the fishes, noting, "We have never had to turn anyone away."

The Columbia Food Bank is open from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It is located at the rear of the church. For more information, call 717-449-5101.