Help with Food for the Holidays
If you are looking for a good free Christmas dinner, Clearfield has two options. The Steve Livergood Jr. Christmas Eve Dinner recently received a donation of $3,575 from members of the F.O.E. in Clearfield to help with their efforts this year. Here Steve Livergood Jr. Foundation organizers Steve and Kelly Livergood receive a check from F.O.E. officers Justin Hainsey, John McLaughlin and Joseph Biancuzzo. On Christmas Day, the Presbyterian Church of Clearfield will be serving free meals from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Photo courtesy of the F.O.E 812.)
By Julie Rae Rickard
Making ends meet has been difficult for many this past year. But, thanks to many community groups, help is available for this holiday season.
In a new move to combat food waste and hunger in their community, the Lanse Evangelical Free Church in Clearfield County recently announced the launch of its community fridge initiative.
“The Lanse Free Fridge is intended to rescue, rehome, and redistribute surplus food. The program, which opened its doors to the public on November 24th, aims to provide free access to food for individuals and families, regardless of need, while also reducing food waste in the local area,” according to a press release.
The Lanse Free Fridge is located at the church’s Ark Park, on 255 Cotohisc Road in Lanse and is open 24/7 to anyone to either donate or receive food. The fridge will be stocked with surplus food donated by individuals, local businesses, and organizations. All food available is free of charge and can be taken by anyone who wants to contribute to a more sustainable food system.
“Food waste is a widespread issue in developed countries,” said Holly Crumrine, director of the Free Fridge, who was inspired after learning about similar fridges popping up across the US. “This is a simple way to enable anyone to help feed their neighbor, while also reducing that waste.”
It isn’t just a way to reduce the amount of food being thrown away. It can also provide comfort and inspiration as the outside and inside of it is covered in Bible verses.
“I’m so proud of our people at Lanse Free Church for embracing this new idea,” said Pastor Matt Mitchell. “And the community has been incredibly supportive from day one,” citing hundreds of positive social media posts in the first few days and initial donations. “I can’t wait to see how it gets utilized as neighbors share with each other.”
Another area church helping fulfill food needs is the West Side United Methodist Church in Clearfield.
Their God’s Cupboard, located near the elevator entrance on Zimmerman Ave. is also a self-serve option. You can check it out on Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
They also have a free food distribution on the third Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at the Clearfield Fairgrounds.
Living Bread Ministries at 628 Daisy St. in Clearfield distributes food to eligible families in the Clearfield Schol District. For more information, check out their Facebook page or call 814-577-5638.
The Salvation Army in Clearfield has a food bank, and Central Pennsylvania Community Action operates food pantries for eligible individuals in Burnside/Mahaffey Clearfield, Curwensville, DuBois, Houtzdale, Karthaus, Osceola Mills, Philipsburg and the West Branch/Allport area. Go to their website www.cpcaa.net for more details.
Free Christmas dinners are also being served in Clearfield.
The Steve Livergood J. Christmas Eve Dinner will be held at The After Dark, 309 N. Third Street, Clearfield. The meals will be ready for takeout at noon. You can choose to dine in, or request delivery in Clearfield and surrounding areas. Please place your orders by calling 814-389-6389.
Recently this charitable effort was helped by a donation from the Fraternal Order of Eagles #812, in Clearfield.
At a recent meeting, the F.O.E. 812 officers and members voted to donate $3,000 to the Steve Livergood Jr. Foundation for their annual Christmas Eve Dinner. In addition, they donated another $575 to help fund the ingredients needed to help the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center and others make stuffing balls for the event, according to a press release.
“We’ve been donating to the annual Steve Livergood Christmas Eve Dinner for several years now, and I’m sure our organization will continue to do so. For nearly 30 years, they’ve held this event in Clearfield and provided many free holiday meals to anyone that requests them while also providing gifts to many area families in need. The event continues to grow each year, and it’s only fitting that we lend a helping hand to ensure the event’s success for our local community and this outstanding foundation” said the F.O.E. 812 Secretary, Justin Hainsey.
This donation was part of the organization’s “People Helping People” program. They reportedly donated a total of $60,000 to various area organizations already in 2024.
If you want a Christmas dinner on Christmas Day, you can stop by the Presbyterian Church of Clearfield on 119 N. Second St. for their annual Free Community Christmas Dinner.
They will have take-outs available from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will be serving in-house from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. They also have deliveries available within an eight-mile radius, according to info from the church. If you have questions or need a delivery, call 814-765-3081.