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YMCA’s Military Share serving more veterans; Hometown Hero banner program donates $3,000
Summary
The YMCA's Military Share veteran food program has grown from 25 to 75 families since early January and costs about $15 per family; the Historic Veil Fund's Hometown Hero banner program donated $3,000 to the effort.
Mel Curtis, who runs the YMCA Military Share program, updated the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 3 about a new veteran-focused food distribution that the YMCA began last month.
Curtis said the program served 25 people in its first week in January and had grown to 75 families by the night before the meeting. Military Share distributes food on the second Monday of each month at 10 a.m. at the 3 C Sports and Events Center, Curtis said, and is currently totally donation‑run, funded by private donations and grants. He estimated the YMCA’s anti‑hunger program spends about $15 to serve each family and said that some federally funded food programs do not reimburse the YMCA for all of its distributions.
Curtis emphasized that the Military Share food is earmarked for veterans and surviving spouses and reassured attendees that the program does not draw from other food programs. He said the YMCA is monitoring demand and may expand distributions to twice monthly or add a second location in Bald Eagle Valley if need grows.
Representatives of the Hometown Hero banner project (Historic Veil Fund Incorporated) told commissioners they completed a fifth round of banners and presented a $3,000 donation to the YMCA’s Military Share program. The banner project now displays 46 banners honoring 55 veterans and first responders; organizers said pamphlets listing banner locations and hero biographies are available at the Bellefonte train station.
No formal board action was requested at the meeting.
