We’ve all felt the impact of rising prices, but you might be surprised to learn that one in nine people in Central Pennsylvania face food insecurity, including one in seven children. Plus, 58% of our neighbors who seek charitable food have a paying job. Joe Arthur Chief Executive Officer with the Central PA Food Bank says food insecurity is at an all time high in Central Pa.

"We thought that four years after the pandemic started that we would be in a better position with respect to hunger. And that's not really the case. We're actually serving as many people now, actually a bit more in terms of individuals coming for help than we were even in 2021 at the height of the pandemic. So unfortunately, with inflation and many of the other challenges, challenges hitting families, we're at this really high level of need and we're really just trying to make sure the public understands that."

WITF is proud to partner with Weis Markets, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and you for our Annual Day of Foodraising on November 14. For each dollar you contribute to WITF today through November 14, Weis Markets will match it – up to $35,000 – with a donation of food to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank

CLICK HERE to donate.

We’ve all felt the impact of rising prices, but you might be surprised to learn that one in nine people in Central Pennsylvania face food insecurity, including one in seven children. Plus, 58% of our neighbors who seek charitable food have a paying job. Joe Arthur Chief Executive Officer with the Central PA Food Bank says food insecurity is at an all time high in Central Pa.
"We thought that four years after the pandemic started that we would be in a better position with respect to hunger. And that's not really the case. We're actually serving as many people now, actually a bit more in terms of individuals coming for help than we were even in 2021 at the height of the pandemic. So unfortunately, with inflation and many of the other challenges, challenges hitting families, we're at this really high level of need and we're really just trying to make sure the public understands that."
WITF is proud to partner with Weis Markets, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and you for our Annual Day of Foodraising on November 14. For each dollar you contribute to WITF today through November 14, Weis Markets will match it – up to $35,000 – with a donation of food to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
<a href="https://www.pledgecart.org/home?campaign=EEEBD422-98F3-44FD-8B94-655B62A2FB2D&amp;source=">CLICK HERE</a> to donate.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from <a href="https://www.witf.org">WITF</a>, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

WITF partners with Central Pa Food Bank and Weis Markets for Annual Day of Foodsraising

Valley Forge National Historical Park encompasses much of the site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of General George Washington. It is often called the “most celebrated encampment.” Adam Gresek, Director of Visitor and Community Engagement at the historical camp explained why this camp was so impactful.

“So, Valley Forge was the winter encampment of 1777 to 1778. Lasted for six months from December 19th of 77 to June 19th of 78. And actually, it was one of eight encampments throughout the winter. But it's probably the most memorable and the most legendary and which is the big reason for that is probably it was the most transformative encampment of the Revolutionary War. The Continental Army marches in as one army and marches out as almost as a completely different army in many ways.”

The Valley Forge Historical Park is currently preparing for a huge event on December 14.

“It commemorates the arrival of George Washington's army to Valley Forge. It's a nighttime event. You can see the soldiers, you know, wrapped up in four winters, starting to set up their shelters and everything. And you can learn about what it was like for the army when they arrived.”

Listen to the podcast to hear more about the people of the encampment and their impact for generations to come.

<a href="https://www.nps.gov/vafo/index.htm">Valley Forge National Historical Park e</a>ncompasses much of the site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of General George Washington. It is often called the “most celebrated encampment.” Adam Gresek, Director of Visitor and Community Engagement at the historical camp explained why this camp was so impactful.
“So, Valley Forge was the winter encampment of 1777 to 1778. Lasted for six months from December 19th of 77 to June 19th of 78. And actually, it was one of eight encampments throughout the winter. But it's probably the most memorable and the most legendary and which is the big reason for that is probably it was the most transformative encampment of the Revolutionary War. The Continental Army marches in as one army and marches out as almost as a completely different army in many ways.”
The Valley Forge Historical Park is currently preparing for a huge event on December 14.
“It commemorates the arrival of George Washington's army to Valley Forge. It's a nighttime event. You can see the soldiers, you know, wrapped up in four winters, starting to set up their shelters and everything. And you can learn about what it was like for the army when they arrived.”
Listen to the podcast to hear more about the people of the encampment and their impact for generations to come.

Learn more about the Valley Forge National Historical Park "most celebrated encampment"

Our journalist roundtable segment for Friday, November 15 included reporters Sydney Roach from WPSU in State College and Sarah Schinto of WVIA in Pittston to discuss stories of interest they've been working on, as well as stories they're working on now. Sydney shares about her most recent report about a Jersey Shore Area Elementary School to close at the end of the year. Sarah shares about her recent story on NEPA workers among beneficiaries as U.S. Labor Departments recovers one billion dollars n lost wages.

Our journalist roundtable segment for Friday, November 15 included reporters <a href="https://radio.wpsu.org/people/sydney-roach">Sydney Roach from WPSU</a> in State College and <a href="https://www.wvia.org/people/sarah-scinto">Sarah Schinto of WVIA</a> in Pittston to discuss stories of interest they've been working on, as well as stories they're working on now. Sydney shares about her most recent report about a Jersey Shore Area Elementary School to close at the end of the year. Sarah shares about her recent story on NEPA workers among beneficiaries as U.S. Labor Departments recovers one billion dollars n lost wages.

Journalist Roundtable:  Jersey Shore Area School District Elementary School closing and NEPA workers among beneficiaries as US Labor Dept. recovers one billion dollars in lost wages

The Historic Haines Shoe House can now be rented as an Airbnb. The home is located at 197 Shoe House Road in Hellam Township. It was once a honeymoon suite, ice cream parlor, and tourist attraction. Originally, the home was built in 1948 as a way to promote a shoe business by Mahlon Haines. Naomi Brown purchased the property in 2021 and turned it into a short-term rental.

“I grew up driving past it many, many times as a lot of people did, who lived throughout this region. And it was just, you know, a really interesting kind of quirky property. And when the opportunity came about for us to purchase it, I just couldn't say no.”

The rental has three bedrooms, one bath, and a living room with a kitchen. Brown made sure to preserve as much history as possible during the renovation period.

“Well, it was really our desire to try and preserve as much of that history as possible. So, when we when we changed the use, we really tried not to change anything fundamental if we if we didn't need to. So, it still has the original kitchen cabinets from 1950s. It has a very custom arched bench in the dining room that was originally for that particular layout. It has a lot of original flooring, all the doors, a lot of features or just that's originally what was there, and we wanted to preserve that. One very unique aspect of the shoe is that it actually has stained glass windows that have shoes as part of the glass inset, and the front door has a stained-glass window with the face of Mellon Hanes, who's the gentleman who built the shoe house. So, a lot of very unique windows, which we did restore several of those to make sure they're here for the long term.”

The <a href="https://www.hainesshoehouse.com/rental">Historic Haines Shoe House</a> can now be rented as an Airbnb. The home is located at 197 Shoe House Road in Hellam Township. It was once a honeymoon suite, ice cream parlor, and tourist attraction. Originally, the home was built in 1948 as a way to promote a shoe business by Mahlon Haines. Naomi Brown purchased the property in 2021 and turned it into a short-term rental.
“I grew up driving past it many, many times as a lot of people did, who lived throughout this region. And it was just, you know, a really interesting kind of quirky property. And when the opportunity came about for us to purchase it, I just couldn't say no.”
The rental has three bedrooms, one bath, and a living room with a kitchen. Brown made sure to preserve as much history as possible during the renovation period.
“Well, it was really our desire to try and preserve as much of that history as possible. So, when we when we changed the use, we really tried not to change anything fundamental if we if we didn't need to. So, it still has the original kitchen cabinets from 1950s. It has a very custom arched bench in the dining room that was originally for that particular layout. It has a lot of original flooring, all the doors, a lot of features or just that's originally what was there, and we wanted to preserve that. One very unique aspect of the shoe is that it actually has stained glass windows that have shoes as part of the glass inset, and the front door has a stained-glass window with the face of Mellon Hanes, who's the gentleman who built the shoe house. So, a lot of very unique windows, which we did restore several of those to make sure they're here for the long term.”

WITF partners with Central Pa Food Bank and Weis Markets for Annual Day of Foodsraising

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