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WILKES-BARRE — The Keystone Mission on Wednesday distributed food to more than 1,100 Luzerne County families in need.
Stefan Biggs, operations director at Keystone Mission on Parkview Circle off Coal Street, said the organization is helping the homeless, hungry and hurting people here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
“Today our Produce Market will distribute to more than 1,100 families who pre-registered with us,” Biggs said. “That represents more than 3,600 people.”
Biggs said Wednesday’s program will distribute about 21,000 pounds of food — fresh fruit and vegetables and some dry goods, in addition to meat to the families.
Biggs said Keystone Mission also has a location in Scranton. He said the organization also provides youth programming and clothing to the families.
Keystone Mission has been in Wilkes-Barre fore more than 10 years, Biggs said. In August of 2018, the mission started the Produce Market.
“We served some 400 families in our first distribution,” Biggs said. “In less than one year, we have grown to serving more than 1,100 families.”
Biggs said families must reside in Luzerne County to participate in the Keystone Mission’s programs. He said recipients are required to fill out minimal paperwork to become eligible and after that is completed they just need to register per event.
More information on volunteering or donating can be found at the website —www.keystonemission.org —or by calling 570-871-4795. Biggs said the mission partners with the Weinberg Foundation for the food distributions. Most of the clothing and some of the food is received through private donations.
“The Produce Market began as something that we were just trying out to see if it would work,” Biggs said. “It just blew up into a pressing need for our community. Our clients appreciate it and we have found that we are meeting a need that we really didn’t even know was there. This just grows month by month.”
Biggs said the Produce Market is held every third Wednesday of every month. Every Friday, Biggs said a food or clothing distribution is held for adults. On Mondays, children’s clothing is distributed, and once a month, diapers are handed out.
Biggs said recipients must preregister for all programs and can do so at the mission’s office, 290 Parkview Circle, Wilkes-Barre , or on Facebook, or at keystonemission.org/produce-market.
”The recipients can be a neighbor, a friend, anybody who is experiencing hardship during the current economy,” Biggs said.
Biggs said the Keystone Mission’s Mobile Food Pantry distributes food that includes fresh fruits, meats and vegetables in addition to canned goods, milk and dairy products.
