Our PROGRAMS
Through our eight direct distribution programs we provide additional avenues of access to nutritious food to thousands of children, families, veterans, and seniors in Mercer County who are unsure of where their next meal will come from.
The BackPack Program
The BackPack Program provides bags of child-friendly, nutritious food for children to take home for the weekends. The program serves nearly 500 elementary and middle school children in 7 school districts throughout Mercer County.
Emergency Food for Emergent Needs
Emergency Food for Emergent Needs is a pilot program designed to bridge the gap between a food crisis and getting set up at one of our nearly 50 member agencies. The program works in partnership with local first responders who provide immediate food assistance to our neighbors in need.
Food As Medicine
Our Food as Medicine initiatives aim to improve the health outcomes of neighbors by increasing access to nutrient-dense and health supporting foods. Food as Medicine partnerships are collaborative and include a variety of health care partners such as hospital systems, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and managed care organizations. Priorities include working with our partners to expand screening for food insecurity, developing referral processes for food-insecure patients, expanding sustainable systems for increasing nutritious food access, expanding nutrition education, and measuring outcomes associated with these efforts.
Food as Medicine Sites
Primary Health Network
63 Pitt Street
Sharon, PA 16146
Allegheny Health Network
631 N Broad Street
Grove City, PA 16127
Sharon Community Health Center
94 W Connelly Blvd
Sharon, PA 16146
Harvest Helpings
Harvest Helpings provides 200 tons of fresh produce year-round to our neighbors facing food insecurity through the Mid-Atlantic Regional Cooperative, & Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System, as well as local farmers.
MilitaryShare
MilitaryShare provides 9 annual private food distributions for veterans and military personnel and their families at designated sites throughout Mercer County. Participation in this program is fast growing, currently serving over 600 individuals.
Mobile Pantry
The Mobile Pantry program provides access to food to low-income families and residents who live in rural and underserved areas of Mercer County. This program is a method of direct distribution by MCFB born out of the pandemic as an additional avenue to reach our friends and neighbors facing hunger. Please see the schedule below and check our Facebook page for Pop-Up distribution dates and locations.
Mobile Pantry Monthly Schedule
- SANDY LAKE
Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church
1st Wednesdays • 11am–1pm - GREENVILLE
St. John’s Lutheran Church
2nd Thursdays • 11am–1pm - TRANSFER
Reynolds Drive-In Theater
3rd Fridays • 12–2pm
*Dates and times are subject to change. Distributions are first come first serve to income-eligible Mercer County recipients until quantities run out.
Myron's Meal Mobile
Myron’s Meal Mobile is a retrofitted school bus that provides hot, nutritious meals to children in their families by traveling to low-income neighborhoods during the summer months. Myron’s Meal Mobile made its maiden voyage in the summer of 2021 and has since served 21,000 meals to our neighbors facing hunger. Watch our website and social media platforms to see if Myron’s Meal Mobile will be visiting your neighborhood this year!
PA Senior Food Box Program
The PA Senior Box program is a nationwide, federally funded program that provides low-income seniors with the food they need. The PA Senior serves 420 seniors at 29 locations across Mercer County. To qualify, seniors must have an income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level based on household size.
PA Senior Box Income Qualifications
| Family Size | Annual | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18,954 | $1,580 | $365 |
| 2 | $25,636 | $2,137 | $493 |
| 3 | $32,318 | $2,694 | $622 |
| 4 | $39,000 | $3,250 | $750 |
| For each additional family member | $6,682 | $557 | $129 |
School Pantry
School Pantry is designed to provide students in grade school who are facing hunger access to healthy, nutritious food five (5) days a week. Currently in its first year of operation the program is providing food to 100’s of low-income students and their families within the school districts of Farrell, Sharon, and West Middlesex.
Need Help now?
If you or someone you know is facing food insecurity, Mercer County Food Bank is here to help. If you need food now, follow this link to find one of our local member agencies or contact us.
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Form 990
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