Newlove Center tells Clinton County commissioners demand for food aid is rising, asks for county partnership

Holly Bieber, executive director of the Newlove Center, told the Clinton County Board of Commissioners during a work session on Oct. 27 that the faith-based nonprofit is seeing growing need for food assistance and asked county leaders for partnership and resource connections.

Bieber said the Newlove Center serves residents in Clinton and Lycoming counties and assists households at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, children who rely on school meals, seniors on fixed incomes, working households in the ALICE population, veterans and single parents. "Food insecurity is not a distant issue. It's a reality for many right here in our county," she said.

The center operates a pantry-choice program, a mobile pantry, and school-based snack pantries. Bieber reported that for the pantry-choice program in Clinton County the organization served approximately 947 individuals and 400 households in its first quarter. The mobile pantry reaches residents in rural or transportation-limited areas; Bieber said the mobile program currently serves 444 individuals and 196 families across two sites (Lochaven and Renovo). She also said the organization recently placed an on-site snack pantry at Robb Elementary School that provides snacks to 392 students.

Bieber described near-term expansion plans that include adding two additional mobile pantry sites in Clinton County (Beech Creek and Lamar) and responding to interest from three elementary schools (Mill Hill Elementary, Renovo and Liberty Curtain) that have requested snack pantries. She said the Newlove Center also plans to open an education center with a target kickoff in February 2026 to teach skills that lead to greater stability and independence.

Asked by Commissioner Harding about preparations for an anticipated surge after a Nov. 1 deadline and how the public can help, Bieber said the center keeps emergency boxes on hand, currently provides regular service once per month to clients and is evaluating whether it can afford to serve people more frequently. She encouraged financial donations, explaining purchases are more cost-effective than many donated food items: "When the money comes in, it goes 100% for food," she said, adding the center pays roughly $0.19 per pound for items they purchase.

Commissioners and attendees praised the Newlove Center's volunteer base; Bieber said about 198 volunteers are on the center's call list. She also noted that Geisinger invited the center to a rural health summit, underscoring the link between nutrition and health outcomes. Bieber asked the county to help connect the center with resources related to food access, transportation and wellness and to collaborate on awareness efforts.

The presentation did not result in any formal county action during the work session; Bieber's remarks were received as a request for partnership and information for future coordination with county programs.