Despite being an agricultural area, Karen DeShong believes Shippensburg is also a “food desert.”

It’s a conclusion the Shippensburg Produce and Outreach board president has drawn from a role that puts her up-close and personal with local food insecurity.

“It is a area of poverty,” she said.

According to Feeding America data from 2021, approximately 7.2% of Cumberland County residents, or 18,480 people, are food insecure.

Shippensburg Produce Outreach was established in 2008 to provide fresh, healthy food to Shippensburg-area residents in need through programs like drive-thru distributions, site deliveries and senior food boxes.

“We perceived a need in our area for a food pantry [and] fresh produce,” DeShong said. “We started out with just fresh produce, and now we do produce, eggs, meat and some healthy packaged food.”

The Outreach was mentored by Project SHARE in Carlisle and achieved its nonprofit 501©(3) status in 2014, according to the organization’s website.

DeShong said it is the only food distribution organization in Shippensburg and covers the Shippensburg Area School District.

“There is a huge need,” she said. “We’re serving on average 375 families a week.”

As the organization has grown, so has the need.

With approximately 700 families registered to receive food, DeShong said the organization sees about 40 to 50 new families most months. She said the need has nearly tripled in recent years, a spike she attributes to the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation.

“The prices have gone up,” DeShong said. “The salaries and Social Security benefits have not kept pace with the increases.”

Of those who receive food from the pantry, she estimates the largest demographic is people age 55 and older, many of whom are on Social Security or disability. “Housing … opportunities have decreased, prices have increased and money is just not keeping up,” she said.

The pantry also traditionally sees an uptick of families in need of food during the holiday season.

DeShong said 419 families participated in the organization’s Thanksgiving drive-thru distribution, up from the weekly average of 375.

The organization acquires its food through partnerships formed with agencies like Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and local grocery stores. Monetary donations are most efficient toward purchasing food items, though the pantry’s website lists unexpired, healthy food items the organization is most likely to accept, DeShong said.

Donations can be made online or checks can be sent to 130 S. Penn St., Shippensburg, PA, 17257.

Aside from donations, DeShong said the pantry is seeking volunteers to help with operations.

“We are incredibly grateful for the community support and the support from all of our agency partners,” she said.