York County Food Bank plans some changes
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By TERESA McMINN Daily Record/Sunday News
In addition to appointing a new executive director, the York County Food Bank will consider plans to separate from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and relocate to another site in the county.
Jonathan Fisher -- who replaces his father, Fred Fisher, as the organization's leader -- said the food bank will consider taking control of its supply and distribution.
Currently, York County is one of 27 counties in the Central PA Food Bank's distribution area. That means donations from York County stores, businesses and individuals go to the national organization Feeding America, which distributes those donations to the Central PA Food Bank, which feeds areas in the state as far away as the New York border.
"We're losing a lot of our donations out of our community . . . People need to know where their donations are ending up," Jonathan Fisher said. "We have needs right here of our own first.
Whatever is left, we'll be more than happy to share with others (outside York County)."
Additionally, if financial donations are made payable to the Central PA Food Bank, "We get nothing," Fisher said of the YCFB.
Later this month, the YCFB will ask to be released from its contract with the Central PA Food Bank, he said.
By severing that legal tie, the YCFB can cut out the middleman and be more productive, he said.
"It basically (would put) control of local donations back in the York County Food Bank's hands . . . We would be able to keep more of that food in York County," Fisher said.
The food bank could then become a direct affiliate member of Feeding America.
"Being a part of that network is vitally important to the community," he said.
Another consideration is the county food bank's location. The city has plans for housing and parks around the food bank, located on Princess Street, Fisher said, and he added that the majority of the YCFB's supplies go to people outside the city.
"We're here under special exception as it is," he said.
