LEWISTOWN — With the recent government shutdown impacting services such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and WIC — which benefits women and children — the United Way of Mifflin-Juniata is creating an outreach to assist local families who may be affected.

Through the month of November, through the 24th, the community is encouraged to make a donation of canned and boxed food items, nonperishable snacks, cereals and grains, as well as baby formula in the United Way’s food drive.

Donations can be dropped off at the United Way building on 13 East 3 St., Lewistown, or at the Century 21 Above and Beyond office 23550 Rte. 35 N. Suite A. in Mifflintown at any time between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

“With the recent government shutdown and the state budget at an impasse many of us in the Social Service sector have been on high alert and extremely concerned about our residents who will be losing benefits,” explained Colette Hartzler, director of United Way of Mifflin-Juniata. “Each day the budget doesn’t pass or the Federal government remains shut down brings difficulty for many families and individuals.”

This year, SNAP benefits will not be given for the month of November and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program will not be available to Pennsylvania residents until Dec. 3 — a whole month later than the normal opening of the program due to the delay in federal funding.

As well as many other areas, Mifflin and Juniata counties will be heavily affected during this time. Hartzler shared that 2,568 people in Juniata County participate in SNAP, that is 11% of the population; there are 7,585 Mifflin County residents who participate in SNAP 16% of the population.

Additionally from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 State Food Purchase Program provided 72,993 meals in Mifflin County and 265,955 in Juniata County.

According to Hartzler, the shutdown is also causing area food banks difficulties as well — while most have some private funding, many rely on grants and other funding from the federal government.

“This is a bleak picture as we head into the holidays and cold winter weather,” explained Hartzler. “I have been wondering what we can possibly do? We are a tiny United Way, with a staff of two and a part time clerical assistant, we are not equipped to pass out food but we must do something.”

Hartzler shared that she knows the community is “amazingly generous” and would help out; that is where the idea for the food drive originated with a goal to “bridge the gap until services and funding is available.”

All contributions will be sent to area food banks in Mifflin and Juniata County for distribution; the food banks will rely on distributing systems they already have in place.