CCCF makes donations to area food banks

Clearfield County Charitable Foundation presents a $5,000 award to the Clearfield Backpack Program. Pictured are (from left) Shayne Lumadue CCCF Board Member, Amy Lezzer with the Backpack Program, John Harpster CCCF Vice Chairman, Mel Curtis YMCA of Centre County, Maureen Gathagan CCCF Board Member, Jeb Soult CCCF Chairman, Jamie Straub CCCF Board Member and Vicki Myers CCCF Trustee Representative for Mid Penn Bank.

The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation recently presented $5,000 to Clearfield’s Backpack Program operated through the Centre County YMCA. Pictured from left are: Shayne Lumadue, CCCF board member; Amy Lezzer, backpack program; John Harpster, CCCF vice chairman; Mel Curtis, YMCA of Centre County; Maureen Gathagan, CCCF board member; Jeb Soult, CCCF chairman; Jamie Straub, CCCF board member; and Vicki Myers, CCCF trustee representative for Mid Penn Bank. — Courtesy photo

CLEARFIELD — The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation recently awarded $20,000 to four food programs in Clearfield County.

The funds come from the CCCF’s Basic Needs Fund which annually donates to help the food banks meet the needs of the community. The fund was specifically created to provide this type of support to local organizations.

The Clearfield Area Backpack Program will receive $5,000. The program was launched in November 2024 as a collaborative effort between Mel Curtis from the YMCA of Centre County and Amy Lezzer from the Clearfield community to expand the successful program for students who attend Clearfield Elementary School, according to a press release from the CCCF.

During a meeting of the CCCF Board of Directors, Curtis and Lezzer did a presentation to the group explaining, “One of the most important aspects of the program is raising awareness about food insecurity among children here in our local community. Families can experience food insecurity suddenly due to sudden job loss, unexpected expensive home or car repairs or a sudden serious illness within the family.”

Lezzer stated “We are currently distributing 235 backpacks each week at the elementary school and each backpack typically contains breakfast, lunch and dinner items for two days along with two snack items.

“Our goal with current fundraising efforts is to expand the program to include middle and high school students,” she said. “This funding from the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is greatly appreciated and will help us reach our goal.”

“While the expanded efforts in the Clearfield School District are new, the YMCA of Centre County Anti-Hunger Program started the Backpack Program in 2014 with 33 backpacks distributed and has now grown to a community impact of 1,625 backpacks distributed every week across programs in several school districts,” Curtis added.

Donations were also given to the YMCA of Centre County for the food banks they operate in Clearfield County; to Central Pennsylvania Community Action for their food programs in Burnside/Mahaffey, Clearfield, Curwensville, DuBois Ministerium, Houtzdale, Karthaus, Osceola Mills, West Branch/Allport and DuBois Salvation Army; and to CenClear for the Lightner Food Bank Program in Coalport and Beccaria Township, according to the release.

“The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation periodically awards funding from the Basic Needs Fund to assist local food programs and meet community needs. These 2025 awards are specifically aimed at addressing food insecurity among children along with support for some of the most rural communities in Clearfield County,” said CCCF Chairman Jeb Soult.

“The CCCF Board of Directors is encouraged by the efforts of the volunteers behind the Clearfield Area Backpack Program and we are pleased to provide the funding to help with their expansion of the program. We congratulate all four organizations receiving the funding and wish them great success with their efforts,” he finished.

Donna Gill of Community Action accepted their award and said “On behalf of Central Pennsylvania Community Action, I would like to thank Clearfield County Charitable Foundation for the generous donation to our organization for our food pantry programs.

“This donation will supplement our efforts to provide food and household items at the food pantries Community Action operates in Clearfield County.”

The CenClear award was accepted by Mark Wendel, chief executive officer, and Mason Strouse, Family Community Partnership director, who said “On behalf of CenClear Child Services, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation for the generous donation to help the John Lightner Food Bank program serving the Coalport area”.

CCCF Executive Director Mark McCracken concluded “We appreciate the donations we receive to the Basic Needs Fund and recognize the valuable services provided by the four organizations that are receiving the 2025 awards.”

To support the Basic Needs Fund or any of the Charitable Foundation funds, send donations made payable to Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 1442, Clearfield, PA 16830 (note which fund in the memo line) or visit clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org to do a secure online donation.

For more information on the CCCF’s work including the many scholarship winners for 2025, check out the foundation’s Facebook page.

For more information, email cccfexecdir@outlook.com.