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Helping Harvest Feeding Generations
FEEDING Generations
Since opening in 1983, Helping Harvest’s mission has been “to feed the hungry.” In that first year, 500,000 pounds of food were distributed to 12 food assistance programs serving low-income sectors of the community. Today, Helping Harvest supplies nearly 10 million pounds of food to 320 local food distribution programs in Berks and Schuylkill Counties, providing nourishment to more than 110,000 individuals annually. All of this food is provided at no cost to partner agencies as well as to those whom are served directly. Since the start of the pandemic crisis in March of 2020, many families and individuals experienced food insecurity for the first time. Thanks to the outpouring of support from the community, Helping Harvest strengthened and broadened hunger relief efforts. To reach more families and seniors in need, the Mobile Market program underwent a rapid expansion, tripling the number of distribution sites since the start of the pandemic crisis. Fresh, frozen and shelf-stable items are now provided monthly at 21 locations in areas throughout the service territory. An extraordinary 1,308,031 pounds of nourishing foods were distributed through the Mobile Market program in 2021 alone! In Fall 2021, Helping Harvest’s Board of Directors launched a strategic planning process that resulted in a set of ambitious goals that will direct their work for the next several years: • Build a service-delivery network that delivers fresher and healthier food to seniors in the community, both by expanding the PA Senior Food Box Program in Berks and Schuylkill
Counties and through new initiatives. • Develop programs to direct as much food as possible to meet the nutritional needs of children during their peak braindevelopment years, beginning in-utero and continuing through the early elementary school years. • Identify ways to provide frozen, healthy, heat-and-eat ready meals to our clients, particularly for seniors and families. • Work with the 300+ food distribution partner – pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, snack programs, school programs – to increase the number of households served, increase the nutritional value and freshness of distributed food and improve the efficiency in which the community is served. In pursuit of those goals, several new initiatives have begun. The well-established Weekender Program provides participating children with a bag of nourishing yet easy to prepare food to sustain them through the weekend. “More than 2,000 kids receive Weekender bags after dismissal every Friday during the school year, a dramatic increase over just the past six months,” according to Jess Umbenhauer, Director of Programs & Community Engagement. “We hope to provide the Weekender Program in all 74 elementary schools in our service territory by 2023.” Recently, this program expanded to serve childcare centers, recreation centers and playground programs. Additionally, this year will be the first time that Helping Harvest extends the Weekender Program distribution through school districts’ summer programs. “By doing this, we hope to reach many children who might otherwise go without,” says Krista Renenger, Youth Programs Manager. By late-Spring 2022, more than 600 kids were enrolled in the Summer Weekender Program.
Another children’s program, Produce 4 Kids, will also be extended through the summer. Produce 4 Kids puts nutritious foods directly in the hands of elementary students in those school districts where all children are eligible for free and reduced lunches. Often, families are introduced to healthy new foods that they might not have tried otherwise. Helping Harvest plans to continue Produce 4 Kids through the summer by way of school and recreation programs. Entering its third summer is one of Helping Harvest’s favorite community events: Wacky Water Wednesdays. This weekly gathering is a partnership between Reading Recreation Commission and the City of Reading. At different sites each Wednesday throughout the summer, a city block is shut down, and the Reading Area Water Authority hooks up a sprinkler to a fire hydrant. Many kids from the neighborhood come out to enjoy a few hours of splashy play. Helping Harvest brings an assortment of nourishing treats to each event for neighborhood children and their parents. These treats include fruit, yogurt, kid friendly veggies, juice and granola bars. Unfortunately, the pandemic crisis also heightened food insecurity for seniors, perhaps the most vulnerable group in the community. With an enrollment of more than 1,900 individuals, the Senior Food Box program serves qualifying low-income seniors in need with a monthly food package tailored for them that helps stretch food dollars and adds nutritious foods to promote good health. “We hope to expand this program to serve 20% more seniors over the next year,” says Lori Lowery, Volunteer & Senior Services Manager.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
2021 Statistics Courtesy of Helping Harvest
More than 8.25 million pounds of food, valued at $11,762,685, were distributed through our network of 320 charitable food programs in Berks and Schuylkill counties. This represents a 15% increase from the 6.6 million pounds distributed in 2019 – representing a continued response to the increase in need due to COVID.
Of the food distributed, 3.57 million pounds (43%) were fresh and frozen foods – the foods typically the most nutrient-rich but often the most lacking in the diets of those in need.
92,732 food assistance packages
distributed at food pantries.
878,716 meals and snacks served with food partially or fully supplied by Helping Harvest at area shelters.
Another 324,084 meals and snacks served at area soup kitchens and meal programs.
10,650 bags (64,065 pounds) filled with
fresh and nutritious foods were distributed through Produce 4 Kids, which provides healthy foods to elementary students in the Reading School District.
14,560 volunteer and community
service hours (equivalent to 9 full time Helping Harvest staff) were worked by 1,780 volunteers.
Nearly 310,000 pounds of fresh
and frozen perishable foods were delivered to senior citizens living in low-income housing through the
Mobile Direct program.
In an effort to better nourish those seniors who are unable to cook for themselves, Helping Harvest recently initiated Produce Plus, which delivers 700-750 bags of nutritious, perishable foods to seniors in partnership with Berks Encore. “These bags can include items such as cut fresh fruit, hard-boiled eggs and yogurt,” according to Lowery. Homebound seniors receive the produce weekly with their delivery of Meals on Wheels, giving them a nutritious boost to enjoy through the week. The seniors receiving Produce Plus bags have been very pleased and one woman even remarked that she “hadn’t eaten blueberries in years!” Through partner agencies and direct service programs, Helping Harvest strives to not only feed the communities hungry neighbors, but to nourish them. No child should go to bed with an empty stomach, nor should a parent need to give up food so their child can eat. Seniors should not need to choose between getting medication and buying groceries. Continuing to adapt to the needs of the community, expanding existing programs and providing healthy foods to those in need is critical to rebuilding the community. This important work is possible only through the generosity of financial supporters, tireless volunteers and community partner organizations. Together, Helping Harvest can, and will, nourish those struggling with food insecurity in Berks and Schuylkill Counties! 2 By Aimee Hafer, Social Media & Communications Specialist, Helping Harvest
Clinical Nutrition Services
Lori Borja, Pa Licensed Nutritionist
Personalized treatment plans include:
Dietary recommendations Recommendations for physical activity Stress management Supplement recommendations Laboratory testing recommendations, if needed Other lifestyle recommendations
By Appointment Only Lori Borja 484-769-6866 Lborja@spineandwellness.org 3933 Perkiomen Ave Reading PA 19606 Suite 104
Thanks to generous
community members like you, we are supplying nourishing foods to 320 charitable food programs that feed the hungry in Berks and Schuylkill Counties. During these difficult times, your support is needed more than ever before.
Please join in our mission to feed the hungry by donating online at HelpingHarvest.org
Drop off your student, PICK UP YOUR LEADER
Congratulations to YVC student EliAnna Bermudez for receiving the 2022 de Mujer a Mujer
Young Changemaker Award
Congratulations to YVC student Katherine Schadler for receiving the 2022 Berks’ Best for
Community Service Award
Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) of Reading is a program of VOiCEup Berks that develops students age 11-18 by engaging them in service-learning activities that meet community needs, build life and career skills, and inspire a lifetime ethic of service.
