This Veterans Day we recognize the beginning of the God’s Country Military Food Share program. The food is made available through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and is distributed through the God’s Country Ministries Church. The program is free to any veteran or their widow(er) without regard to income. It is just to say thank you for your service.  Any document that shows proof of military service is needed to sign up to receive food.  Distribution is the second Tuesday of every month between 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Each veteran receives 3 boxes each month. The first container is of shelf stable items, such as canned goods. Another contains fresh produce. The third includes frozen meat, eggs, milk and a possible variety of items that the food bank has to offer month to month. It is the equivalent of over $100 of food products, and it doesn’t cost the veterans a thing.

The first distribution in November 2022, there were 18 enrolled in the program.  The enrollment has grown every month. The current enrollment is just over 300. There has been amazing support from the community both through anonymous financial contributions and now 70 – 80 volunteers that come to help sort and distribute the boxes of food. It has been a learning experience, but the process of handling all the food and traffic management has gone well. The process includes a lot of good help and seems to run as smoothly as a well-oiled machine.  There is generally a very excited and happy atmosphere during the distribution, a very pleasing and satisfying experience.

 For the members at the church that first began to coordinate this program, their thoughts are, “To God be the glory, great things He has done.”  Gratitude is not an option; it is an obligation. The organizers of this program want veterans to see this not as a hand out, but as a thank you from a grateful community. This is our way to give back to those who gave so much to this country.

Local veterans may register for the program by providing any document that shows proof of military service, ie., DD214, driver’s license with the American flag and the word veteran on it, VA ID card, VA insurance card is adequate. Only one document is needed. If you can’t get there, you can appoint an alternate person by a signed proxy.

If you want to make a donation to the God’s Country Military Food Share Program, here are the ways to do that:

Make checks payable to Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, enter the donation amount; in the Memo section of the check enter our name, God’s Country Food Share and our account number 480110. It is very important to include the account number and name so the funds go into our specific account.

Checks can be sent directly to the food bank at the following address: Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, 3908 Corey Road, Harrisburg, Pa 17109-5929. Online donations may be made at www.centralpafoodbank.org. Again, include our name and account number in the Comments section. Local donations may be mailed to God’s Country Ministries/Free Methodist Church, PO Box 674, Coudersport, Pa 16915.

Thank you for your interest and support to help us provide the thanks of a grateful community to our veterans, reservists and active duty personnel and their families.

For more information, please contact any of the following people: Gail Allen, 814-203-4223, e-mail, redtoplodge@hughes.net, Annette Faust, 610-295-9477, e-mail, Nemmie3089@yahoo.com, Mark Redcay, 814-558-4538, e-mail, m.redcay@yahoo.com, Pastor Dan Brehm at the church, 814-320-3901.