RELEASE DATE:  10-23-18

BETHESDA MISSION ANNOUNCES FALL FOOD DRIVE

Harrisburg, PA — Bethesda Mission is launching its annual fall food drive to benefit hungry and homeless men, women, and children in the Harrisburg area. The drive will run from October 22 through December 21 with the goal of collecting 100,000 pounds of food.

The Mission plans to distribute over 1,200 bags of food and serve over 20,000 meals this holiday season. Zachary Kinard, director of outreach at Bethesda Mission shared, “Each year this food drive takes on greater significance for the Mission’s Outreach and for the partners and families it serves. Recently it’s been challenging to keep our inventory stocked year-round with staple non-perishable food items, but the food drive continues to be a way for us to receive the food we need for the holidays and into the upcoming year. It’s amazing to watch how generous our friends and neighbors in Central PA have been in providing these food donations.”

Those who are interested in helping are encouraged to pursue one of the following three options:

• Individuals may collect various non-perishable food items (no glass containers please) and drop them off at any of the following locations:  Bethesda Mission (611 Reily Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102), M&T Bank branches on both the East and West shores, Dauphin County Library Branches, and Fred Beans Ford and Kia Dealerships in Mechanicsburg.
• Businesses, churches, and community groups may hold food drives in their establishments. Groups are encouraged to contact Jessica Henry at 717-257-4442 x229 or jhenry@bethesdamission.org for support materials.
• Financial contributions to purchase fresh meat, produce, and dairy will be accepted online at BethesdaMission.org/donate or by mail to Bethesda Mission, P.O. Box 3041, Harrisburg, PA 17105

Suggested food items and a full list of collection points, may be found at: BethesdaMission.org/event/food-drive

In response to the 2017 drive, 98,305 pounds of food were collected, 1,050 food bags were distributed, and 20,805 meals were served to people in need by Bethesda Mission throughout the holiday season. The Mission estimates 65 churches, schools, and businesses participated by collecting canned goods within their establishments from October through December of 2017.

Support from community partners has made this year’s drive possible:

“M&T is committed to strengthening the communities we serve and we are pleased to support the Bethesda Mission holiday food drive and its work to provide a healthy holiday meal to families in need throughout our community,” stated Steve Foreman, M&T Bank Regional President, Central and Western Pennsylvania (Gold Sponsor).

“As a community-based health insurer, helping those in need in our community is part of our mission. We are proud to help the Bethesda Mission provide nutritious meals during the holidays to men, women and children who need them the most,” said Susan Hubley, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, Capital BlueCross (Gold Sponsor).

MEDIA WELCOME AND APPRECIATED!

Bethesda Mission has been meeting the needs of hurting and homeless people in Harrisburg, PA for over 103 years. Providing shelter and recovery counseling for an average of 110 men and 25 women in two facilities, as well as after-school and summer programs for local children and teens, the Mission served nearly 130,000 meals and assisted over 5,000 separate individuals just last year! View more of our recent statistics here.

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CONTACT:  Katie Andreano, Manager of Communications    

717-257-4442, Ext.  228 | 973-865-1742 (Cell) | kandreano@bethesdamission.org