Thanks to a big-hearted community of donors, Corner Cupboard Food Bank and The Way Community Center of Greene County just wrapped up another successful season of giving kids what they need to succeed.
United Way of Greene County found a good fit for its longtime Stuff the Bus project when they chose to pass it on to The Way Community Center, with its strong ties to the community. UWGC started Stuff the Bus in 2002 to benefit Greene County families with children K through grade 12, including alternative and home based programs.
This year, a $10,000 grant from CFGC’s Campbell Family Fund helped The Way hit the ground running, program director Dawn Mankey said. “We had amazing support! First Federal donated $3000 and we got so many other donations. Machal Forbes (former UWGC director) is on our board so we ran like a well oiled machine!”
On August 13, more than 300 kids and their families came to The Way’s spacious Center on 209 W. High Street Waynesburg. There was lunch and games to play, family appointments to set up, after school activities to sign up for plus a chance to pick out cool school clothes and supplies then, maybe sit still for a haircut. The real adventure for the youngest would be climbing into the school bus in the parking lot to get a backpack from Waynesburg University students, then do an assisted emergency exit jump out the back door. School ready!
Mankey was all smiles as two days later as she helped a mom from Jefferson pack up bags for her Kindergarten-age daughter. “We have so much left over we’re giving out today and tomorrow to reach those who didn’t sign up. There’s no income guidelines, nobody will be denied. Many of the families who come are working two jobs so if you need something please give me a call. Or just stop by.”
Corner Cupboard Food Bank saw the need for its free Summer Youth Café in 2023 and hit the road to deliver.
Thanks to an Anonymous Donor, who started a non-endowed CFGC fund with a $20,000 donation, the Café was able to grow this year, director Candace Webster is happy to report. That anonymous challenge brought in an extra $1,123 from the Daniel and Lizzie Tharp Fund, $550 from the Peters Family Fund and $550 from the Bernie and Nelson Fox Fund. These funds help pay for transportation, supplies and what Corner Cupboard pays for food. “We’re a non-profit. A $5 donation buys $25 worth of food through the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank,” Webster said. Locally, Corner Cupboard trucks pick up year round from Dollar General, Sheetz and Walmart, along with Aldis and Walmart in Washington County and Giant Eagle in Rices Landing. Some local stores not on the list have commitments to other service organizations, Webster noted.
Produce For Kids began June 20 at sites in Mount Morris, Carmichaels and Waynesburg on Tuesdays, then to Dilliner, Mather and Graysville every Thursday. By June 24, kids could also “Grab and Go” five days worth of breakfasts and lunches a week while shopping for fruits and vegetables.
More than 550 kids age 18 and younger were served during the first two weeks of the Café this year, approximately 5500 meals a week between the sites. Meals prepared by West Greene School District were partially reimbursed through the USDA, with Corner Cupboard picking up the remaining costs.
This year, Webster, her staff and Corner Cupboard volunteers were also able to deliver Produce to Kids at Ryerson Station State Park one Saturday a month until the Café program ended on August 14.
See you next year!
Community Foundation of Greene County is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Founded in 2000, CFGC is the central philanthropic vehicle for countywide donations, currently managing over $8 million in assets through more than 100 endowments and restricted funds.
For more information, go online www.cfgcpa.org or contact crfgepa@gmail.com or call 724-627-2010 during business hours.