Twin Valley Food Pantry (TVFP), which is located at Conestoga Mennonite Church, 2779 Main St. (Route 23), Morgantown, is in need of volunteers to work at the upcoming food distribution, to be held on Tuesday, Feb. 28. In addition, volunteers are needed to stock the pantry prior to the distribution.

Adult volunteers, as well as high school students, can also help stock the pantry on Wednesday, Feb. 22, beginning at 7 p.m. following the delivery of food by Helping Harvest and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Volunteers will also sort and unload food items from local donations and food drives. Stocking volunteers will work for approximately two hours.

On distribution day, volunteers will meet at the church at 3 p.m. About 30 volunteers are needed for the evening for setup, distribution and cleanup. The work is usually completed at approximately 7 p.m. Volunteers may work the whole evening or volunteer as much time as they can.

Sarah Kolb, TVFP administrative assistant, explained that the distribution of food to clients begins at 5 p.m. "We have returned to our 'client choice' model, where individuals can come into the building and shop for groceries," said Kolb, noting that a drive-up distribution was utilized during the pandemic.

According to the monthly food pantry newsletter distributed by Kolb, who is also the office administrator at Conestoga Mennonite Church, TVFP served 100 families in January, representing 458 people.

"We also had approximately 40 volunteers from across our community supporting the evening. We distributed approximately 9,000 pounds of food items. Thanks to all the donors across the community for their financial contributions or for coordinating a food drive," the newsletter stated. "Thank you all for the hundreds of volunteer hours each month making this important community mission possible. We can always use your help volunteering at the TVFP - please consider joining us (in February)."

The pantry is also seeking financial contributions, as well as donations of food and other items. Items can be dropped off at the Conestoga Mennonite Church office on Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those who cannot drop off food donations at the designated times may schedule a time to donate by emailing sarah.kolb.tvfp@gmail.com.

Items that are needed by the pantry include sugar, cereal, canned goods and instant mashed potatoes, as well as paper products, laundry detergent and dishwashing soap.

TVFP was formed in 1994 as an outreach ministry of the church. In March of 2021, the TVFP became registered as its own nonprofit organization governed by a community-based board of directors. The pantry primarily serves families in the Twin Valley School District. Since some of food supplies to the pantry come from state programs, clients must meet certain income guidelines.

For more information about the pantry, including volunteer opportunities, email Kolb or pantry director Howard Moss at hamoss@ptd.net. More information is available at http://www.facebook.com/twinvalleyfoodpantry.org and http://www.twinvalleyfoodpantry.com.