Ride to benefit Franklin County food pantries

American Legion Riders Post 517 of Mercersburg, Pa., will join American Legion Riders throughout the area to raise money

July 18, 2012|By ROXANN MILLER | roxann.miller@herald-mail.com

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — State funding cuts have food pantries pleading for donations, so local American Legion Riders groups are responding with the American Legion Riders Food Pantry Ride to benefit food pantries in Franklin County.

American Legion Riders Post 517 of Mercersburg, Pa., will join American Legion Riders throughout the county to raise money for South Central Community Action Program’s six county food pantries, said Amy Kline, secretary of American Legion Riders.

The ride is Saturday, July 28. Registration is between 9 and 10 a.m. at the St. Thomas (Pa.) Food Pantry at the St. Thomas United Methodist Church, 360 St. Thomas-Edenville Road, St. Thomas.

“There are people in our community that are hungry,” Kline said. “I want to do everything I can to help with this terrible problem in our local community.”

The state budget for 2012-13 reduced the annual allocation to SCCAP’s food purchase program, SCCAP’s Executive Director Megan Shreve said last week.

Franklin County received $141,000 in 2011-12 and will receive $18,000 less in 2012-13, she said.
She said if donations do not increase, people would receive less food.

In January 2011, SCCAP supplied food to 921 families or about 2,000 people. One year later, that number jumped to 1,160 families and 3,200 people, according to SCCAP records.

“It’s beyond me that people in our own community have to go to bed hungry,” Kline said. “I hope that we have a huge turnout for the fundraiser so we really make a difference in the lives of those who truly need it.”

The ride is open to the public.

You don’t have to be a member of the American Legion to ride, Kline said.

Registration is $15 for riders and $10 for passengers.

Riders will leave the pantry at approximately 10:30 a.m. and travel from the St. Thomas food pantry to food pantries in Greencastle, Waynesboro, Fayetteville and Orrstown before returning to the St. Thomas food pantry.

For more information about the ride, contact ride coordinator Joe Cocco at 717-830-5300.

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