Barbara Geist, a volunteer with Gleaner’s Food Bank, puts food items into a bag for clients at the food bank at the St. Ferdinand Roman Catholic Church annex in Cranberry Township. A non-denominational organization that is funded through Butler County Community Development and Action, the food bank supports, on average, more than 75 families each month.

CRANBERRY TWP — Twice each week, 72-year-old Barbara Geist goes around to several businesses to pick up the extra food that will be given to those in need at Gleaner’s Food Bank.

Geist, who lives in Adams Ridge in Adams Township, has been volunteering at the Cranberry Township food bank for nearly a decade.

Her husband, Harry Geist, 76, has joined his wife in helping out the food bank, making volunteering a family affair.

She had learned about the food bank through her parish, St. Ferdinand Roman Catholic Church, which provides the space for the pantry.

Geist makes stops at Einstein Bros. Bagels and Loafers Bread Co. to pick up their donations. It is a task she really enjoys.

“I take satisfaction that those less fortunate get the food that they need,” she said.

“I also get a lot of satisfaction with the group of volunteers I work with. They’re the best group of people. They really enjoy their work.”

Gleaner’s Food Bank is a nonprofit group that provides food to Cranberry residents in need. It operates out of an annex building at the church on Rochester Road.

Gleaner’s is a nondenominational organization that is funded through Butler County Community Development and Action.

The community action agency is an administrative office for state and federal grants that fund various programs that serve low-income residents of the county.

The county office is charged with distributing funding to all of the county’s food banks.

The funding is then supplemented through donations and community organizations’ food drives.

The food bank’s clients must meet income guidelines that are established by Butler County.

Clients for Gleaner’s fill out a form and application and supply proof of Cranberry residence.

The Cranberry food bank distributes food on a monthly basis to more than 75 families who meet the county income guidelines.

In addition, each week, the food bank gives out numerous sets of bagged groceries to families in need on an emergency basis.

Geist and others pick up donations on a weekly basis.

During the designated week of distribution, the items are packed up in bags on Monday and Tuesday and then distributed on Wednesday, when the volunteers help the food bank’s clients pack up their cars.

They couldn’t do it without the group of volunteers. “They’re really good workers,” Geist said.At Christmas, Gleaner’s, with the assistance of St. Ferdinand church, was able to provide wrapped gifts to families through a Giving Tree set up in the church.Gleaner’s Food Bank director Linda Heery said it seems hard to believe that people in Cranberry could be without food, but the number of people in need continues to grow.Clients come to the food bank for different reasons.For many, their annual income is not enough to support their families without some type of assistance. Illness, injury, loss of a job, separation or divorce leaves others without money for basic necessities.Many elderly do not have the retirement income to pay for their expenses.The number of people regularly assisted by Gleaner’s Food Bank has nearly doubled in the past few years.This past December, the food bank served 102 people, the record number of people helped in one month.The average per month for clients is about 65 to 75.In January, 86 people picked up food, 20 more than last year, Heery said.“The need is definitely going up,” she said. “We’ve had phenomenal help from the community. It’s great to be involved in this.”Heery said the word glean means “to collect bit by bit, and we certainly do that.”“Gleaner’s can provide for the needy only through the generosity of our community We stock our shelves bit by bit [JUMP]with contributions from local food drives along with monetary donations,” she said.Heery said the Cranberry food bank is fortunate because a number of groups hold food drives throughout to the year to help supplement what the county provides.The Cranberry food bank receives support from many businesses that provide it with donations of food and/or discounts on food bought. Those include: COSTCO, Marburger Dairy, Seven Fields Giant Eagle, Starbucks, Herb Brittner Meats and Kretschmann Farms.In addition, Gleaner’s receives donations of food and/or money from anonymous donors, parishioners of St. Ferdinand and church groups, and many residents who have heard or read about the food bank.Many organizations hold food drives to support the food bank, including: Seneca Valley School District, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Cranberry Area Chamber of Commerce, the Cranberry Township Community Chest, the Cranberry Elks Club, the Cranberry Township Noon and Sunrise Rotary clubs, the Kiwanis Club, the Cranberry Lions Club, township neighborhoods, businesses and other preschools and churches.“We just want to make life a little easier for those that are struggling,” Heery said.Heery said the food bank volunteers also try to take the time with the clients to talk and make a connection rather than just have them pick up food and leave. Sometimes they are even able to offer advice on additional help they could receive.The backbone of the Cranberry food bank is its dedicated volunteers. Heery works with about 15 adult volunteers and has about 20 more on a waiting list because of the lack of space at the annex.She also works with children and teenagers, who got involved at the food bank about five years ago.She said the food bank has up to 28 youths come out and help and there is no limit on children volunteers because of their changing schedules and interests, Heery said.The young volunteers help with packing the bags and taking items to clients’ cars.“These kids are hard workers. They’re very dedicated and really fun to be around,” she said.To contact Gleaner’s Food Bank for donations or to volunteer, the address is St. Ferdinand Church (Annex), 2535 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township, PA 16066.

<b>Address: </b>St. Ferdinand Church (Annex), 2535 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township, PA 16066<b>Serves: </b>Gives food to more than 75 families each month<b>Number of volunteers: </b>15 adult volunteers plus a number of children and teen volunteers<b>Director:</b> Linda Heery<b>Phone: </b>724-776-2888

Linda Heery, director of Gleaner’s Food Bank, gathers food items to pack for clients at the food bank at the St. Ferdinand Church annex in Cranberry Township.