Alma Lodge donates to pantries, awards scholarships; state grants coming to food banks

Dave Sutor, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
·2 min read

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Independent Order of Odd Fellows Alma Lodge 523 continued its longstanding traditions of contributing money to area food pantries and awarding scholarships to high school students Thursday.

The fraternal organization donated $1,500 apiece to six different food banks. Four seniors received a combined $3,000 in academic support during a presentation that took place at the lodge, located in downtown Johnstown.

“It’s great that we have the funds that we can do this stuff,” said Dan Faint, Alma Lodge’s secretary.

The scholarships went to seniors Landon Grey (Ferndale Area High School), Mason Oliver (Richland), Samuel Wirfel (Penn Cambria) and Gayath Karunaratne (Westmont Hilltop).

When explaining how the recipients were selected, Faint said, “Since we do stuff for the community, we’re looking for kids, students who do stuff in the community. That’s what we go by a lot.”

West End Food Pantry, Walnut Grove Food Pantry, Food Security-Moxham Food Pantry, Franklin Street Food Pantry and The Salvation Army, all of Johnstown, received donations, as did Interfaith Community Food Pantry in Nanty Glo.

“Talking to the food banks, they’re having a lot of the same problems we are as far as membership, or getting people to help,” Faint said. “And the cost of food is going up. … I think they do look forward to getting a check from us. It just helps out just not in Johnstown, but the whole area. It’s nice that we’re able to do that for the community.”

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced Friday that almost $190,000 will be coming to local food pantries, as part of $2.07 million in awards dispersed through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Reach and Resiliency Grants initiative.

Three organizations in Cambria County – Women’s Help Center ($50,000), Interfaith Community Food Pantry ($46,855) and St. Vincent de Paul’s Food for Families ($42,432) – received state funding, as did Somerset County Mobile Food Bank ($50,000).

“Pennsylvania enjoys an incredible bounty of natural resources and generous communities willing to help feed those in need,” Redding said in a press release.

“Expanding the capacity of community organizations to supply fresh, healthy food to families in need is a key element of the (Gov. Josh) Shapiro administration’s strategy to invest in a healthier, more secure Pennsylvania.”