As winter rolls around each year, food banks and community outreach programs across the country are often met with a stark increase in the demand for their services. While the holiday season is a time of celebration for many, the cold weather and additional expenses that accompany this time of year can prove challenging for others. To combat this seasonal challenge, Water Street Mission launched its annual food drive on Nov. 1, and the organization is once again calling on Lancaster County residents to band together in support of their neighbors.

"We already started to see an increase in demand for our programs in September, and we're expecting another influx as the months get colder," said Matt Clement, director of marketing for Water Street Mission. "We didn't quite meet our goal last year, but we're thankful that we got close. It really helped us make it through the winter."

The goal of this year's drive is 110,000 pounds of food. Until Friday, Dec. 22, donations of nonperishable food items may be dropped off directly at Water Street Mission's facility, which is located at 210 S. Prince St., Lancaster. Donors can bring items to the building's loading dock during its regular hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Donations may also be taken to any of the 30 drop-off locations that have been established through partnerships with businesses and organizations across the county. To view the list of requested items and drop-off locations or to host a drop-off location, visit https://tinyurl.com/wsmdrive2023.

In addition to helping Water Street Mission to withstand the wintertime wave, the food drive allows the organization to continue its many other outreach programs without diverting all of its resources. Water Street Mission's emergency shelter provides housing for 170 individuals each night, and about 15% of the guests are children. The organization's other resources are utilized to maintain its building, medical and dental clinics and a dining hall that provides guests with three meals per day. The primary facility is staffed by nearly 100 workers to offer services around the clock.

Water Street Mission offers a variety of services beyond its emergency shelter and food bank. The organization offers opportunities for employment through its connections throughout the community, and it facilitates multiple educational programs that include college courses and GED test preparation. Last year, Water Street Mission served almost 9,000 individuals through its outreach center.

Water Street Mission is always accepting volunteers to assist with food sorting during the drive. For more information, visit https://wsm.org.