On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12 noon to 1 PM, you will find a small but mighty contingent of LIU 12 and Central York School District Food Service folks handing out food to students of York Learning Center and Central York School District, as well as students from the surrounding community. The highest number of students' served was over 150 daily, and at least 100 students get nourishment from this lunch distribution site.
Jennifer Knott, Social Worker in our Preschool Division, Kelly Kile, Administrative Assistant, Michelle Ludwig, Site Administrator of YLC, Pam Gurreri, Cook, Tricia Smith, Head Cook, and other Central York Food Service volunteers supply a hot meal, a cold breakfast and lunch for the following day, as well as kind words and encouragement. Mary Stahlman, LIU Teacher Assistant, helps on Friday’s. Donations from Stauffers' cookies, as well as the United Way, have allowed for cookie and book distributions during the hour as well.
Down time during the distribution always drifts to conversations about how much these volunteers GET from this opportunity to serve, and the feeling of connectedness to the students and community that this food distribution window provides to them. It is a time that they look forward to. There are many "regulars" that find their way to the lunch...some from as far away as South Western School District... who come because of a connection to Miss Pam, Miss Trish, and the other staff. There have been opportunities to connect parents to other services and to assist them with finding diapers, hand sanitizer, or other items of need.
