ASHLAND, Pa. — The Schuylkill Food Network's mission is simple: to empower local communities to provide food for those who need it. To achieve that goal, they seek more volunteers.
Bradley Dougherty is a Co-coordinator of the pantry held in Ashland.
"We have a bunch of core volunteers here today who go to multiple pantries, so without them, we really wouldn't be able to do what we do," said Dougherty.
More than 400 volunteers help run food pantries across the county. Volunteers like those at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Ashland.
Although hundreds of volunteers throughout the county are available, organizers say this pantry is still short on volunteers. Normally, around 20 people are on hand to help out.
"We're always looking for volunteers. We do packing out of The Roundhouse in Pottsville. We take our dry bags from there. Obviously, we need help with distributions, which are much larger distributions than this," explained Dougherty.
Core volunteers with Schuylkill Food Network staff 20 pantries across Schuylkill County. Some, like Rosalind Rux, have been helping out for more than five years.
"I like helping out the community, and it's really nice seeing people get, you know, the supplies that can really help them," said Rux.
Janet Maurer, another volunteer, says helping those in need makes her time as a volunteer worthwhile.
"I'm just glad to do it. I just, I'm glad I have the strength to do it, and as long as I'm able, I'll continue to do it," described Maurer.
For more information on Schuylkill Food Network volunteer opportunities, click here.