OLEY VALLEY FOOD PANTRY
A Community Food Pantry located at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church

 WHAT IS THE OLEY VALLEY FOOD PANTRY?

The Oley Valley Food Pantry has been providing food for low income families in the community since October of 1997. The Oley Valley Food Pantry distributes approximately 6,000 pounds of food per month. The majority of food comes from the Greater Berks Food Bank. We pay a maintenance fee of between 0 and 19 cents per pound which pays for their physical operation - heating the building, running the massive drive-in freezer, paying salaries, electricity, etc. For every dollar we receive, we can get $20 worth of food from the Helping Harvest Food Bank.


WHO BENEFITS?

More than 25 million Americans - including 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors - who receive emergency food assistance each year from Feeding America, the Nation's Food Bank network of charitable agencies.
 FACTS ABOUT RURAL HUNGER

Challenges facing rural areas greatly differ from metro/urban areas:
  • Employment is more concentrated in low-wage industries
  • Unemployment and underemployment are greater
  • Education levels are lower
  • Work support services, such as flexible and affordable childcare and public transportation are less available
  • Rural marketplace offers less access to communication and transportation networks.


HELPFUL CONTACTS

 Organization  Phone Number
Berks Community Action Program and Budget Counseling Center

 610-375-7866 
Berks County Citizens Council
 		 610-373-3195
 Berks County Courthouse Legal Assistance

 1-800-262-5297
Center for Mental Health

 610-378-6070
 Family Promise of Berks County

 610-373-3323
Food Stamps 610-736-4211
Helping Harvest Food Bank

 610-926-5802
Human Relations Council 610-375-8852
Office of Aging 610-478-6500
PA Energy Assistance Program 610-736-4228
Reading Salvation Army  610-373-5208
SAFE Berks 610-372-9540
Women's Counseling Services 610-372-7234

The Oley Valley Food Pantry is held at Friedens Lutheran Church on the THIRD WEDNESDAY of each month from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

INCOME GUIDELINES
(2019-2020)

 FAMILY SIZE  YEAR  MONTH  WEEK
 1  $18,735  $1,561  $360
 2  $25,365  $2,114  $488
 3  $31,995  $2,666  $615
 4  $38,625  $3,219  $743
 5  $45,255  $3,771  $870
 6  $51,885  $4,324  $998
 7  $58,515  $4,876  $1,125
 8  $65,145  $5,429  $1,253
 Each additional add  $6,630  $553  $125

For further information, please call Friedens Lutheran Church
at 610-987-6021.

2020 Food Pantry Dates & Starting Numbers
        
                                                                       1/15/2020                             101
                                                                       2/19/2020                              10
                                                                       3/18/2020                               4                      
                                                                       4/15/2020                              93
                                                                       5/20/2020                              55
                                                                       6/17/2020                              15
                                                                       7/15/2020                               41
                                                                       8/19/2020                              131
                                                                       9/16/2020                               83
                                                                      10/21/2020                              32
                                                                      11/18/2020                             144
                                                                      12/16/2020                              75


STATE FOOD PURCHASE PROGRAM

The State Food Purchase Program is Pennsylvania's key program designed to help meet the nutritional needs of those struggling with hunger. The past several PA budgets have substantially weakened this program. This has created a severe reduction in pounds of food available for distribution because of the combination of rising food prices and the underfunding of the State Food Purchase Program.


HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Help Us by Volunteering!

Awareness - Help us spread the word about our services. We need to reach all the families in our community who cannot afford to put food on the table.

Cash Donations - For every $1 donated, we can purchase $20 worth of food from the Helping Harvest Food Bank.

Volunteer - Share your time and talent to help us provide food for those people who are less fortunate. Join us the THIRD WEDNESDAY of each month anytime between 12:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Food Drives - Organize a food drive at your school, church or civic group. Challenge other civic groups to help us beat hunger.

Donations - We are always in need of items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap, paper products, etc. (these are items that we do not receive from the Helping Harvest Food Bank). Currently we need canned vegetables and fruit, canned tuna, cereal, pasta, pasta sauce, mac & cheese, canned chicken, small cans of coffee, small jars of peanut butter, and jelly.




Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church  |  1076 Memorial Highway (Route 73/662)  |  Oley, PA 19547  |  610-987-6021