Thanks to an anonymous $20,000 and a collaboration with Sprankle's Neighborhood Market, a new venture by the Saxonburg Service Unit of the Salvation Army is ensuring underprivileged residents of Southeastern Butler County have monthly access to fresh food.

Karen Boltz, human services coordinator for the service unit, said the unexpected and generous donation included wishes that the money be spent on providing food to those served by the Saxonburg Service Unit.

So Boltz and her husband, Marlin, approached Doug Sprankle for help in selling them the food and providing a cooler to store it between the time when the boxes are packed and the next day, when they are distributed.

The Boltzes discussed with Sprankle the potential items to put in the boxes, based on the popularity of fresh items he sells.

In addition to buying the food from Sprankle's and storing it in their cooler, the Boltzes bought $25 Sprankle's gift certificates to include in each box so recipients could come back and get any ancillary ingredients they might need to prepare the food.

The first fresh food box in October contained chicken, hamburger, onions, potatoes, carrots and seasoning packets for the meat.

“We tried to target things people can't get at a food bank,” Boltz said.

She said the boxes were packed to provide food for one to three people.

Those with bigger families got two or three boxes, Boltz said.

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