MISSION

 

CHANNELS' mission is to support the needy and alleviate hunger by implementing or facilitating food-related programs that serve agencies or networks that assist those in need.

 

To support this mission, CHANNELS has initiated eight programs:  1) the regular pickup and delivery schedule; 2) the family outreach program; 3) the plant-a-row program; 4) The Kitchen School; 5) Kids Cafes; 6) New Leaf Catering, 7) Nutrition Education; and 8) Food For The Future.

 

1) Regular Pickup and Delivery

 

CHANNELS stores no food except that which is needed to supply our 800 Kids Café meals daily.  Our three trucks, two refrigerated and one un-refrigerated, are on the road daily from 8:30 to 5:00 p.m.  Drivers work on predetermined schedules and food donations are matched to the needs of more than 60 agencies that we serve.  Unscheduled donations are dove-tailed into the regular schedule.

                         

2) The Family Outreach Program

 

CHANNELS reaches hundreds of individual families through this program.  The program is administered by volunteers from member churches and organizations who have identified and make food deliveries to people in need in their community.  Deliveries are also made to the Housing Authority complexes of Jackson Lick Apartments, William Howard Day Homes, Hoverter Homes, Hall Manor, and Morrison Towers.

                            

3) The Plant-a-Row Program

 

A joint project of the Food Writers' Association of America and CHANNELS, Plant-a-Row encourages gardeners to plant an extra row of vegetables for the hungry; CHANNELS has set up pickup points in the area from which we collect and distribute the fresh produce in season. During 2007 CHANNELS distributed 4,181 pounds of apples, corn, tomatoes, beans and peppers to over 50 agencies. 


Above: George Weigel, Food Writers Association, helps students and 4-H Club members of New Cumberland with planting for distribution by CHANNELS.


Mechanicsburg youth pick for Channels Plant-a-Row distribution

Mechanicsburg youth harvest vegetables for Plant-a-Row distribution by CHANNELS.


 

4) The Kitchen School

 

The Kitchen School is a job-training program in food preparation and service for low-income persons.  It is designed to prepare students for a sustaining career in the food service industry, leading them to self-sufficiency.  Study extends for 12 weeks, and classes are held four times a year.  CHANNELS' Chef Instructor, Michael DeMarco, teaches the course, which includes Serv-Safe Certification.  CHANNELS' project coordinator, Maureen Romanoski, teaches life skills and employment procedures, and CHANNELS' staff provide nutrition education.  The last two weeks of the course are spent in an internship, which has led to employment for many of our graduates. Click here for more information.

 

       

Celebration on Graduation Day!

 

 

5) Kids Cafes

 

The Kids Café is an afterschool program which not only feeds hot meals to children, but also provides other life-enhancing experiences and instruction.  CHANNELS has partnered with organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Pennsylvania, the Nativity School, Carlisle YMCA and the 21st Century Club of the York School District to provide a hot, nourishing dinner to over 800 children daily.  Meals are planned and prepared by the chef and students at The Kitchen School, and delivered by CHANNELS' drivers.  

                                        

             

       

Children at Berryhill Boys and Girls Club enjoy afterschool meal.

 

 

6) New Leaf Catering

 

New Leaf Catering is a revenue-generating program designed to offer "no frills" service at a reasonable price to other organizations.  All proceeds are directed to sustaining The Kitchen School operation.


7) Nutrition Education

 

Because of our unique position as sponsors of 15 sites of Kids Cafes, CHANNELS has the opportunity to present a program both to make children aware of AND to give them the opportunity to choose foods which contribute to their good health.


The Nutrition Education Program is designed to conform to the nutritional guidelines for children as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture.  The Department has developed a curriculum just for children, which CHANNELS has implemented at some of our Kids Café sites.  By the end of the school year, all 15 sites of our Kids Café will have nutrition education as part of their afterschool programming.

 

  

Kids from Berryhill show their healthy snacks in class.

 

 

8)  Food For the Future Program - A Collaborative Educational Program

CHANNELS Food Rescue, through The Kitchen School, partners with the Harrisburg School District's Career Technology Academy located at the William Penn Campus at N. Third Street, Harrisburg.  Through this partnership, CHANNELS expects to provide an "innovative educational program" to enhance the learning opportunities offered at the William Penn School by integrating some of The Kitchen School activities and opportunities with those of the Vo-Tech.

 

Educational Improvement Tax Credits (EITC) are offered by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)  to corporations supporting this program.  This credit of  75% to 90% may be applied to:  Corporate Net Income Tax; Capital Stock Franchise Tax; Bank and Trust Company Shares Tax; Title Insurance Companies Shares Tax; Title Insurance Companies Shares Tax; Insurance Premiums Tax; or Mutual Thrift Institution Tax.