Prince of Peace seeing high demand

By MICHAEL ROKNICK

Herald Business Editor

FARRELL – Before the state budget’s impasse and federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program getting paused the Prince of Peace was already strained meeting local needs.

“Now it’s getting scary for so many,’’ Sarah Worthington, the Farrell non-profit organization’s CEO said. In all, 19,000 Mercer County residents receive some form of SNAP benefits, the Mercer County Food Bank said.

Before the SNAP pause, the Prince of Peace served 400 meals weekly at its soup kitchen. Since then it hit 600.

“And we’re expecting more to come,’’ Worthington said.

Also, with no state budget a $75,000 grant awarded to the Prince of Peace for pregnant women and those already with infants has been frozen.

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Carolyn Peterson, the Prince of Peace food program assistant, scoops up beef stroganoff at the non-profit’s soup kitchen on Monday. The Farrell organization said it’s seeing swelling numbers for its food programs as money is being tied up due to a lack of a budget at federal and state level.

MICHAEL ROKNICK | Herald

Prince of Peace focusing on soup kitchen

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“We were expecting that money six months ago,’’ she said. “This would have allowed us to get things like breast pumps for moms and clothing, diapers and baby wipes for infants.’’

It also has locked up funds for the State Food Purchase Program. These grants provide funds to local governments and food banks to buy food for the needy.

Frozen meat right now is a big concern for the upcoming holidays, such as turkeys for Thanksgiving, ham for Christmas, and chicken for other times.

“It’s not just for the holidays,’’ Worthington said. “There’s a shortage of frozen meat now in the charitable food network.’’

Volunteers for the soup kitchen are always welcome, she said.

Anyone needing food assistance can visit the Mercer County Food Bank’s website and click on “Get Help,” or call the food bank at 724-981-0353 and ask for Bailey Shepard, strategic partnerships and programs manager.

Food donations can be dropped off at the Mercer County Food Bank 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, located at S. Sharpsville Ave., Suite A, Sharon, 16146.

Monetary donations can be mailed to above address or made online at MercerCountyFood-Bank.org

Jerald Manning, Prince of Peace food program coordinator, packs meals-to-go at the non-profit’s soup kitchen in Farrell on Monday. The organization said it’s seeing numbers at its Monday and Wednesday soup kitchen meals due to the federal and state budget impasse.

MICHAEL ROKNICK | Herald