Five local organizations are partnering to provide free fresh produce to Centre County residents.
No-cost produce markets will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. (or until everything’s gone) on July 28, Aug. 25, and Sept. 29 in the former Express store at the Nittany Mall.
The State College Food Bank, Faith Centre Food Bank, State College Downtown Rotary Club, the Nittany Mall and Think We not Me are teaming up for the initiative to offer fresh, local produce at no cost as the community continues to struggle with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The effort helps make a reality of the State College Food Bank’s longtime goal of providing more fresh produce to people in Centre County, business manager Heather Lee said in a news release.
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.
Orders can be placed online through the
Penn State Student Farm website. The club is selling tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, cantaloupe, peppers, kale, and much more, all for $2 per plant. Student farm merch including t-shirts, stickers, hats, and tote bags is also for sale.
A portion of the proceeds from the plant sale will be donated to Meals on Wheels, the State College Food Bank, and the Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Community Cafe.
Your ad blocker is on.
Please choose an option below.
Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
Sign Up
With the pair living in the area their entire lives and Gonder attending Penn State, it was only fitting for them to start a brand with a goal of showing off the tight-knit, “not too big, not too small” community of State College.
“Whether it was coming here to skate or hang out with friends, I’ve been around the area my whole entire life,” Taylor said.
Before State & Co., Taylor and Gonder worked at a fashion wholesaler based out of Philipsburg, Pa., traveling to China twice a year together.
Courtesy of State & Co.
However, they knew they wanted to start something of their own that portrayed their values, eye for design, and passion for where they live.