More than 47,000 people in Lancaster County are food insecure, equating to about one in 11 people, according to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Among children, that number increases to one in eight. Northwest EMS is helping to address this problem.

Throughout the month of February, the organization will hold its annual food drive to benefit local food banks. Donations will be accepted at the Elizabethtown EMS station, 380 W. Bainbridge St., and at the Manheim EMS station, 60 W. Colebrook St.

"We're looking for all kinds of food, particularly staples like pasta, sauce, canned vegetables and canned meats," said Lori Shenk, community outreach manager for Northwest EMS. She noted that the donation drive can accept some perishables, but arrangements must be made specifically with her for the donations due to lack of storage at the stations. Personal hygiene items and paper products will also be accepted for the drive.

The drive has been held since 2014, and over the years, it's been very successful, Shenk stated. In 2021, the stations collected more than 1,800 pounds of food. Last year was a bit of disappointment, she noted, although the drive did yield nine very large boxes of food. "Nearly half of what we collected last year had to be discarded because it was out of date," Shenk explained. Items will be delivered to the food banks at the beginning of March, so Shenk recommends that donations have a shelf life at least through the spring.

Items will be sorted by type, and the donations will be divided equally among the three food banks in the footprint served by Northwest EMS: the Community Cupboard of Elizabethtown, the East Donegal/Conoy Christian Food Bank and the Manheim Central Food Pantry.

Holding a food drive is a natural extension of the services provided by Northwest EMS, Shenk remarked. "Our mission is to serve our community," she said. "We have a unique view on the needs in our community because we're in people's homes. We see the need every day. ... Food banks are a great resource for the community. The food drive is an easy thing for us to do to contribute indirectly to the health and well-being of the people we serve."

The food drive will run through Tuesday, Feb. 28. Items will be delivered sometime during the first week in March. For more information on the food drive, contact Shenk at 717-371-8282 or lshenk@nwems86.org.