Channels - About

History

Channels Food Rescue was incorporated in June 1989 with a vision to alleviate hunger in South Central Pennsylvania.

Inspired by an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, which covered the work which the organization, Philabundance, has done to fight hunger in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Jean Beatty researched the possibility of using this model in our area.

Aided by the first volunteers from the Pennsylvania Medical Society Alliance, the model was successfully adapted to the unique needs of the Harrisburg area in an effort to alleviate hunger closer to home.

Over the past 20 years, Channels has been instrumental in expanding the awareness of the hunger issue in our area and has taken steps to alleviate the problem in the Capital City region of Pennsylvania. Our organization currently incorporates seven programs--all designed to address a different segment of needy persons. These programs are: Regular pickup and delivery; Family outreach; Plant-A-Row; The Kitchen School; Kids Cafes; New Leaf Catering, and Nutrition Education in our Kids Cafes. We continue to be open to new ways to serve the needy people.

Present

Channels is a charitable non-profit organization which collects excess perishable and shelf-stable food from hospitals, hotels, corporate kitchens, food contractors and retail stores and distributes to our member agencies such as homeless shelters, soup kitchens, crisis centers, homeless shelters, and other agencies in our area who serve people in need. We have a three pronged approach which involves gathering the necessary resources, food preparation and delivery, and educational programs - all aimed at alleviating hunger in Central Pennsylvania.

Channels is currently delivering over one million lbs. of nourishing food annually to over 60 agencies, serving 100,000 persons annually. In addition, Channels’ Kitchen School supplies meals to 600 children daily in 15 sites of our Kids Cafes.

Incorporated in June of 1989, Channels is a member of Feeding America, the Nation’s Food Bank Network.

Membership

Channels is a member of Feeding America, Hunger Free Pennsylvania, Feeding Pennsylvania, The Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and CREDC, and The Civic Club of Harrisburg.

Hours of Operation:

Channels' hours are from 8:30AM. to 5:00PM, Monday through Friday, but arrangements can be made for weekend or evening pickup.

Geographical Region Served:

Channels operates in Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, and York Counties.

Method of Operation:

Food pickups are made in our refrigerated trucks and deliveries are made immediately to the recipient agencies. This service is free of charge to the agencies and allows them to divert some of their food budget monies to other services they offer.

Some of Channels donated food, if suitable to be extended, is taken to The Kitchen School, our job-training program in culinary arts for low income persons, where it is reprepared to feed more hungry people. Our professional chef offers the students a culinary arts curriculum while they prepare food for the hungry.

Agencies receiving the food are determined by the size and content of the donation. Most deliveries are made on a predetermined basis, and new pickups are dovetailed into our regular schedule.

Food Donors to Channels Include:

ARAMARK; Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Allison United Methodist Church, Ashcombe Farms, Baughman United Methodist Church, Beth El Temple, Blue Ridge Country Club; CRH Catering, Carlisle War College; Central York School District; Chapel Pointe; Coakley's; Colonial Country Club; Commonwealth Caterers; ConAgra Foods; Country Market; Creative Catering; Covenco, Inc.; Dauphin County Technical School; Deer Lodge; Dixon University Center; Feeser's Food Distribution; Giant Food Stores; Harrisburg Academy; Healthy Grocer; Hilton Harrisburg and Towers; Hershey Chocolate USA; Hershey Creamery Company; Hershey Lodge and Convention Center; Hershey Country Club; Hershey Foods Corporation; Hershey Pantry; Hersheypark Food Service; Holiday Inn Grantville; Holy Spirit Hospital; Holy Trinity Lutheran Church; Hotel Hershey; JDK Consortium; John Gross and Company, Inc.; Karen's Catering; Karns Quality Foods; Kessler's, Inc.; Little John's Restaurant; Long John Silver's; Milton Hershey School; Olive Garden Restaurants; Pennsylvania Bakery; Philip Bongiorno Conference Center; Pinnacle Health; Pizza Huts/15 locations; St. Paul's Lutheran Church; Starbucks Coffee Company; Target Stores; WalMart Stores; Wawa, Inc.; West Shore Country Club; Sodexho Food Service, SYSCO Food Services of Central Pennsylvania. Also, many corporations and caterers regularly donate excess food from events.

Channels' Member Agencies Include:

Bethesda Mission; Bethesda Women; Boys and Girls Club, Berryhill; Boys and Girls Club, Hanover; Boys and Girls Club, Cumberland; Cathedral of St. Patrick; Catholic Charities, Evergreen House; Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church; Central Allison Hill Community Center; Daystar Spiritual Center; Downtown Daily Bread; Edgewater Psychiatric Center; Firm Foundation; Head Start Derry Street; Head Start King Center; Head Start Lang Manor; Head Start Steelton; Harrisburg Housing Authority Projects/Jackson-Lick Apartments/William Howard Day; Hoverter Homes; Morrison Towers; Harrisburg Teen Challenge; Interfaith Shelter for Homeless Families; Keystone Math and Science Academy; Kids Haven; Keystone Residences; Lourdes House; Mount Pleasant Hispanic-American Center; Neighborhood Center; New Hope Ministries; New Life for Girls; New Promise Ministry; Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament; Promise Place; Saint Theresa's Church; Salvation Army of Harrisburg and Carlisle; Shalom House; Sonshine Ministries; Tabernacle Baptist Church; Woodside Family Center; YMCA of Greater Harrisburg, Camp Curtin; YMCA of Carlisle; YWCA of Greater Harrisburg; the York City School District’s 21st Century Program; and church-based outreach programs feeding families in need.

Executive Director: Lori Hoffmaster

Director of Operations: Scott Kelly

Culinary Programs Director: Jackie Pestka

Volunteer/Fund Development Coordinator: Ann Gordon

Board of Directors:
President – Ellen Kyzer
Vice President – Michael Glaser
Secretary – Pamela C. Polacek
Treasurer – Kevin Lee
Marion C. Alexander
JoEllen Carnathan
David Desfor
Matthew Granite
Yvonne Hollins
Heather Hall
Scott Karns
Mark Koellner
Sue, O'Rourke
Nancy Richey
John Sisto
Legal Counsel - James Franklin., McNees, Wallace & Nurick

Founder: Jean Beatty

A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.