An organization that helps people in the community can use your help fulfilling its mission.

Community Cupboard of Elizabethtown is looking for volunteers for a variety of roles.

The organization, which is part of Community Place on Washington, is located at 61 E. Washington St., Elizabethtown. It operates as a food choice pantry for residents of Elizabethtown, Bainbridge and Rheems to receive groceries free of charge on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"Volunteers are used as shopping assistants," said Steve Knox, Community Cupboard director. "They go with the client and take the product from the shelf and bag it and place it in their cart."

Volunteers are needed in other areas as well, he noted. "Stockroom volunteers mark the dates on the food products, so the oldest products are placed on the shelf first," he explained. "Volunteers do donation pickup at the local grocery stores, and some stock the shelves before every Wednesday and Saturday."

Community Cupboard was founded in the 1970s by the United Churches Elizabethtown Area. It moved to its current location in October of 2018.

Residents of ZIP codes 17022, 17502 and 17570 must meet eligibility requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to shop at the pantry, which operates by appointment only. Residents may shop once every four weeks.

Because it's a "food choice" pantry, shoppers may select their groceries. Supplies are stocked based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food pyramid and follow USDA MyPlate recommendations.

Food ranges from nonperishables to refrigerated items, and shoppers may also select household products and toiletry items.

Food for the Community Cupboard comes from a variety of sources, including donations from community members, as well as local churches, businesses and farmers. Food is also purchased from local stores and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

The need for the cupboard's services continues to grow, Knox said. In 2021, it served 1,778 individuals. Last year's total topped 4,800.

Knox emphasized that volunteering with the Community Cupboard is the perfect opportunity for "someone with a heart to serve others and dedication to continue to serve on a regular basis."

Along with serving at the site, there are several ways for people to support the organization, he said.

"Do food drives with your workplace or organization. Purchase food that is posted on (our) Facebook (page) at the beginning of each month and bring it to the cupboard. Purchase Giant cards to aid us in purchasing milk, cheese and margarine that each client receives when they shop," he remarked. "Cash donations can always be used to help support the purchase of food and support the building functions."

However people support the food pantry, they will join a group of people who truly believe in the organization's mission and see firsthand its impact on the community.

"It is a great group to be involved with," he stated. "We work hard, but we have fun, and our hearts are filled with the gratitude the clients show us."

For more information on Community Cupboard of Elizabethtown, search for the organization on Facebook or visit https://communityplaceetown.org/community-cupboard.