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MIFFLINTOWN -- The Juniata County Food Pantry is seeking donations for its upcoming summer backpack program.
Single-serve lunch items are needed, according to Patricia Brown, Summer Backpack program coordinator for the Juniata County Food Pantry.
Suggestions include cans of pasta meals, single-serve rice and/or mac 'n cheese cups, microwave meals, ready-to-heat soups, fruit cups, pudding and Jell-O cups; snack crackers or cookies, single-serve cereal or oatmeal; and cereal/breakfast/granola bars.
Donations may be dropped off at the Juniata County Food Pantry between the pantry's hours -- 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays.
Financial donations are also welcome and can be mailed to the Juniata County Food Pantry at Box 44, Mifflintown, PA 17059, with Summer Backpack Program indicated in the memo.
The summer backpack program will be held June 4-Aug. 17 at the Juniata County Food Pantry located at 14 N. Main Street.
Students in the Juniata County School District who have completed kindergarten through eighth this school year and received free or reduced lunches at school are eligible.
Each student will receive food for 20 lunches during June and July and 15 lunches in August that will consist of an entrée, a fruit item, a snack, and a juice box or milk.
Beginning in May, parents and legal guardians may call the pantry at (717) 436-9718 to schedule an appointment. Leave a message if there is no answer.
Brown said the program -- now in its 12th year -- continues in an effort to help local families.
"According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the cost of food has risen 27% in the past five years. Our goal is to ease the financial strain on family food budgets during the summer months," she said.
Backpacks and school supplies will be given out to those students at the time of their August meal pick up.
"Thank you to this community for your continuing support of the Juniata County Food Pantry and it's Summer Backpack Program. Your generosity is greatly valued," adds Brown.