Helping Harvest

The mission of Helping Harvest is to provide nutritious food to people facing hunger in our communities.

We have a number of ways we serve our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Many of these programs are in coordination with our robust network of approximately 350 agency partners, but some are direct service programs executed by our own staff and volunteers.

SENIOR PROGRAMS

Helping Harvest programs also support another vulnerable population: senior citizens. The PA Senior Food Box Program provides a box of food every month to more than 2,100 low-income seniors, distributed at over 100 sites. We also deliver fresh and frozen perishable foods to low-income senior housing facilities. The primary recipients of meals from the Community Kitchen are seniors, too.

MOBILE MARKETS

Perhaps one of the most visible programs is our direct service Mobile Market program. Helping Harvest runs 24 Mobile Markets, which provide a variety of nutritious produce, dairy and meat items along with shelf-stable products to neighbors in need, once per month at most locations. These Mobile Markets take place throughout our service territory.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

The Weekender Program provides over 4,200 students each week with a bag of easy-to-prepare meals and snacks to eat over the weekend. Healthy Sprouts provides a bag of fresh foods to children in need. The School Pantry Program is directed towards middle and high school students. Our Maternal Health Program provides a box of nutrient-dense foods to pregnant and postpartum individuals.

HELPING HARVEST COMMUNITY KITCHEN

Our newest and perhaps most ambitious endeavor is the Helping Harvest Community Kitchen. The Community Kitchen rescues bulk food from a variety of sources and produces heat-and-eat ready meals and repackages bulk food ingredients into family-friendly portions. Meals are then distributed