Our Programs
Local food, shared with care.
The Wayne County Farms to Families Fund strengthens our local food system by connecting farms, the Wayne County Food Pantry System, and community partners.
Together, we ensure fresh, nutritious food reaches the people who need it — while also supporting local farmers and the economy.
Real Stories. Real Impact.
“Good food to eat. More money to put toward a decent car. Thank you.”
— Wayne County Resident
“It’s hard to put into words how much this helped. The fresh food, the care, the smiles — it all reminded me that people still care.”
— First-Time Pantry Visitor
“Thank you very much for the temporary assistance. We just needed a little help adjusting our food budget. My husband had been laid off, and we were waiting for his unemployment benefits. The fresh food (and the recipes) were so helpful.”
— Wayne County Couple
Monthly Pantry Distributions
Through the Wayne County Food Pantry System, five monthly pantry sites — in Honesdale, Lakeville, Newfoundland, Lakewood, and Damascus — provide families with a mix of shelf-stable items and fresh, local food purchased by the Farms to Families Fund.
More than 450 households are served across the county every month.
Each household receives a combination of:
Shelf-stable pantry items
Fresh, local food like produce, eggs, and milk
Real Stories. Real Impact.
“Often during pantry distribution, we hear, ‘I never thought I would be in this situation. I am thankful that you are here.’ With cuts to SNAP benefits, this is a story we’re hearing more often — and the number of people facing food insecurity is likely to rise.”
— Volunteer
Beyond the Pantry: Food Education
Fresh food is most powerful when people feel confident using it.
Our food education efforts include:
Beyond the Pantry: a 12-week, hands-on nutrition and cooking class
Seeds 2 Supper: a garden-to-table initiative with Penn State Extension Master Gardeners
Volunteer-led cooking demos and recipe cards at pantry sites
These programs empower families with practical skills, new flavors, and connection to local food.
Real Stories. Real Impact.
“A mom with two young children reached out after moving to rural PA. Though her family earned slightly above pantry guidelines, we served her through a Pop-Up Site, providing food, baby supplies, and meat. With tears in her eyes, she tried to give us her last $14. We told her to keep it — and come back to volunteer when she could. Sometimes families need just one-time help, other times much longer. Our resources are often stretched, but we’re here.”
— Volunteer
Supporting Local Farms
Money donated to the Farms to Families Fund is used directly to purchase food from Wayne County farms.
This means:
Families receive the freshest, most nutritious food
Local farms are paid fairly, even during off-seasons
Our food system becomes more resilient and community-rooted
It’s a win-win — for families and for farmers.