The mission of The Hope Center is to provide hope through care, friendship, and encouragement to the residents of Bellwood-Antis.
Since August 2020, The Hope Center (THC) has been providing supplemental food to families in the Bellwood-Antis community. This past fiscal year, July 2023 - June 2024, THC gave away over 13,000 cases of food weighing over 100,000 pounds, prepared and delivered 3,100 soup meals, and welcomed over 70 households each month to the Food Pantry to select perishable and non-perishable food.
God has provided revenue through donations from community members, local churches and grants (PA Skill Charitable Giving, M&T Bank, Central PA Food Bank). Free and reduced cost food is provided by our partners at the Central PA Food Bank and other local distributors including Dave Taylor at The Door, Jim Brown at SFPP, American Rescue Workers, and Imler's Poultry.
God has intersected the needs of the community with the capacity of THC and the willing hearts of reliable volunteers. THC has more than 50 volunteers who collectively give over 1500 hours each month!
As we continue to walk through the doors God opens, we trust He will provide. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul (Hebrews 6:19).
Visit the tabs on the left to find out more about THC's programs, our impact in the community of Bellwood-Antis, and how you can get involved.
Co-Directors Terri Harpster & Tracie Ciambotti
Soups-On is The Hope Center's flagship program. The weekly Wednesday meal program has been a blessing to more than 100 residents of Bellwood-Antis, many of whom are elderly or shut-in. From September 2023 through April 2024, The Hope Center prepared and delivered over 3,100 hot meals to the homes of community members. Area churches use this as a ministry to their shut-ins as they provide designated delivery/visitation people. The Hope Center also has delivery volunteers who take meals to Graystone, Bell Mansion, Bells Court and other area residents.
If you are or know of someone who is an elderly or shut-in resident of the community and could benefit from a hot meal once a week, contact Tracie at 814.880.7206.
The Soups-On Meal planning & Prep Crew is led by Kathy Nau.
Meal Recipient Feedback:
"We appreciate the meals we receive from you. I think what you are doing is wonderful."
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s ElderShare Program provides a monthly box of food to seniors 60 years of age or older whose total household income does not exceed the listed guidelines. ElderShare is in addition to any other food assistance the participant may receive, except that potential participants cannot be current recipients of the USDA’s monthly Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for low-income seniors.
The Hope Center's Truck2Trunk Program delivers the senior boxes from The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank once monthly to 15 homes in Bellwood-Antis; 57 other senior residents of Bellwood-Antis pick up their senior box when they use the Hope Center Food Pantry once monthly.
The past fiscal year (July 2023 - June 2024), 864 boxes of shelf-stable food were distributed to families in the Bellwood-Antis community. Additionally, many of those families also received milk and fresh produce.
Food distribution dates will be announced on our Facebook page and posted on our door at 421 Main Street Bellwood.
Recipient Feedback:
"Thank you. I am now able to pay my electric bill on time."
Did you know 1 in 6 children are hungry in the United States? Inflation and the reduction of SNAP benefits amplified the food insecurity crisis. Food insecurity is a lack of confidence there will be enough money for food each month, forcing some families to choose between paying a bill or buying food. The past fiscal year (July 2022 - June 2023), there were 505 pantry visits, most families leaving with 4-6 boxes of shelf-stable and perishable foods including meat.
The Hope Center Food Pantry is open designated Saturdays from 9:30-11:30 am. Clients are assigned a group (Blue or Gold) and one of the two Saturdays each month. Dates are announced on the Hope Center Facebook page and posted on the door.
We typically have a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, cheese, meats, and non-perishable foods. We also sometimes have a selection of toiletries. The meat for food pantry is costing about $1,500 each month. Organizations supporting the Food Pantry by donating months of meat include Hillside Community Church of Bellwood (two months) and the Bellwood-Antis Council of Churches (two months). Individuals have also donated towards the purchase of meat.
If you are not already registered, it only takes a few minutes. Call Tracie at 814.880.7206. If you or your organization would be willing to contribute to meat, call Terri at 814.931.8965.
The Hope Center is fully funded by the generous donations of businesses, community organizations, and community members.
Last year we received grants from M&T Bank,The Central PA Food Bank, and Pennsylvania Skills Charitable Giving. Hillside Community Church and the Bellwood-Antis Council of Churches contributed to the cost of meat for Food Pantry.
The lifeline of the Hope Center is our volunteers. Many community members give of their time each month to volunteer for one or more of our programs. More than fifty volunteers provide over 1,500 hours each month.
As the need for assistance with food has increased for families in our community, God continues to provide food, volunteers, and financial support. HE is a GOOD Father who is providing for The Hope Center because our team is His hands and feet. Our team includes all our volunteers, as well as our financial and prayer partners.
Thank you and may God continue to richly bless The Hope Center as we continue to do His good work for the residents of the Bellwood-Antis community.
The Hope Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation and all donations are tax-deductible. Use the link above to donate through PayPal or make checks payable to The Hope Center and mail to 421 Main Street, Bellwood, PA 16617. A receipt will be provided.
If you have any questions or would like to meet to discuss partnership opportunities, such as adopting months for meat, please reach out to Terri at 814.931.8965 or Tracie at 814.880.7206. We look forward to partnering with you.
Blessings,
Terri Harpster & Tracie Ciambotti, Co-Directors
The Hope Center is dependent on volunteers of all ages to sustain the programs that serve residents of the community. If you are looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities, consider the following:
Soups-On: Kitchen crew, packaging, and delivery of meals, and clean-up. Wednesday opportunities between the hours of 10:00am-1:00pm.
Delivery Truck: Help to unload the truck(s). The second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 8:30am-10:30am.
Truck2Trunk: Help to deliver nonperishable food boxes to senior families in the community. One Saturday morning of each month, from 8:30am-9:30am.
Pantry Prep: Twice a month on Thursdays from 10am-12:00pm, help to check expiration dates, unpack boxes, and restock shelves for the Food Pantry.
Food Pantry: Register clients. Restock shelves. Help clients get their groceries to their vehicles. Designated Saturday opportunities from 8:30am to 11:30am.
Substitute: Maybe you cannot regularly commit to one of the volunteer opportunities. Could you be a substitute, filling in periodically when someone is away or sick?
Call Terri Harpster at 814.931.8965 for more information or to get started.
The Hope Center, Inc. of Bellwood, PA, is a Christian 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to bring hope to the citizens of Bellwood-Antis through acts of care, encouragement, and friendship.
The Hope Center is governed by the following Board Members: Vonda Harding, Secretary; Jendy Maines, Treasurer; Wes Harpster, Tim McMillen, Kathy Nau, and Melody Plummer.
The Hope Center is directed by Terri Harpster and Tracie Ciambotti.
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
In accordance with Federal law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, The Hope Center is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, and American Sign Language) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which can be obtained online, at www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-programdiscrimination-complaint-form.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by mail, fax, or email.
Mail
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; Fax
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; Email
program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Website developed and maintained by Terri Harpster. Last updated October 2024.
Did you know 1 in 6 children are hungry in the United States? Inflation and the reduction of SNAP benefits amplified the food insecurity crisis. Food insecurity is a lack of confidence there will be enough money for food each month, forcing some families to choose between paying a bill or buying food. 
