By Christina Leslie | Correspondent

The Mercer County CYO Bromley Neighborhood Civic Center, an important partner in assisting Hamilton-area needy, has enlarged their East State Street food pantry just in time for the crucial summer months.

The new and improved food pantry was unveiled during a May 17 ribbon cutting ceremony with local officials including Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede and members of the CYO Mercer board of executives. With the help of donations and volunteers from the greater Mercer County area, the pantry was expanded in size from 60 to 300 square feet to better serve area families and youth.

“We went from a closet to a much larger space,” rejoiced Donna Marie Clancy, the center’s assistant director. “Some people hadn’t realized we were here.”

A community development block grant from Hamilton Township enabled the expansion, as did donations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and local businesses such as Shop Hamilton, Doctors Express, individuals and area churches.

The grant was used to outfit the pantry with new food storage shelves, a commercial size stainless steel freezer and a refrigerator to keep perishable foods fresh.

The pantry renovation was sorely needed. According to CYO statistics, in 2016, 610 families of 1,627 adults and children were served by the facility.  For the first four months of 2017, 82 families were registered to receive assistance, and the center supports the food needs of 40 to 60 clients monthly.

Eligible families may visit the pantry once each month to pick up a box of state and federally funded food; the center supplements it with private and local donations which may include soups, beef stew, potato flakes raisins or rice.

Clancy noted, “We never quite know what we will get. Last month we got some produce like tomatoes and eggplants. It was a great help to the seniors who can’t get to the farmer’s market.”

Summer months are particularly crucial, she continued.  

“Donations in the summer are slow since schools are closed and many parishes are not holding drives, but the needs increase,” Clancy said. “During school months, the parents only have to worry about dinner, but with the children home during the summer, there’s breakfast and lunch to think about too.”

Clancy was pleased with the new pantry’s size and new equipment.

“It is important to reach more families,” she said. “With more space, we can do more.”

To further address increased need during the summer, the CYO Bromley Center holds an eight-week summer lunch program in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Mercer Street Friends. Children from ages five to 14 are served lunch at 1 p.m. from June 26 through August 18.

“We go through a lot of food,” noted Thomas G. Mladenetz, CYO Mercer executive director. “People tend to be most generous between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the summer months are hard. If people are struggling, we don’t turn them away.”

The CYO Bromley Center food pantry welcomes donations of non-perishable items and volunteers to help unload trucks, stock shelves and distribute food. For more information, or to find out how you can help, contact the center at 609-587-8100.