Food insecurity has been an issue in State College and at Penn State long before the coronavirus pandemic began. But the pandemic only worsened the issues, making it easier to spot and sparking a sense of urgency in the community to help one another out.
The State College YMCA, State College Food Bank, Lionâs Pantry, and members of the Student Farm at Penn State and the University Park Undergraduate Association have come together to raise awareness of the food insecurity problem on, off and around campus.
Mel Curtis, the anti-hunger director of the YMCA, has organized various events before and throughout the pandemic to provide Centre County families with food in times of need. According to Curtis, food insecurity is something that isnât âeasily detectedâ and hard to tell if a person or family is struggling.