For more than a decade, CrossNet Ministries Food and Nutrition Center has been handing out something extra to area families for Easter. For the last several years, the food items, which include ham, potatoes, and some extra fixings for an Easter dinner, have been distributed from a van parked in the corner of the Friendship Church parking lot adjacent to the CrossNet facilities.

This year, the Easter meal distribution will take place on Monday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Food and Nutrition Center, 127 W. Franklin St., New Holland. Those who cannot make the April 14 distribution may receive food items on Tuesday, April 15, and Wednesday, April 16, during their regular appointment times. Food and Nutrition Center manager Amy Marburger informed clients who had appointments at the food pantry on Tuesday and Wednesday to just pick the Easter meal items up with their other groceries. "I told them not to make two trips because gas is way too expensive," explained Marburger.

This year, Marburger and her helpers will be handing out 150 hams purchased at a discount from Yoder's Country Market and 150 5-pound bags of potatoes, donated by Shady Maple Farm Market, and 150 dozen eggs. Also included in the giveaway will be rice, canned vegetables, canned fruit, and gravy. Bags filled with candy, canned soups, noodles, and more are donated by Our Lady of Lourdes Church as part of the organization's Lenten Collection. "(The church does) this for Easter and Thanksgiving," noted Marburger.

This year, the Food and Nutrition Center is planning to serve 150 families with Easter meals. "Last year, we served 145 families, 495 individuals, and we made 11 home deliveries," said Marburger. "We saw a large increase across all the food programs during the last half of 2024," she added, noting that the ministry was still seeing a higher number of recipients in January. Marburger noted that while numbers usually drop somewhat as spring approaches, she anticipates the need to continue because of the high price of food. "The food stamp dollar doesn't go as far," she pointed out. For this reason, Marburger predicted that the Food and Nutrition Center will be in need of certain items. "We are always looking for condiments, pancake mix, syrup, crackers, and snacks," she said. All donated items must be unexpired. Marburger noted that the center is also in need of non-food items, which are not donated often. "The biggest things we are always looking for are personal care products, feminine hygiene, and paper towels," she shared.

Readers who would like to learn more about CrossNet may visit http://www.elancocross.org.