Community Support and Food Assistance in Lawrence and Mercer Counties
As we move into November, many families across Pennsylvania are feeling an unfamiliar and unsettling kind of anxiety. The uncertainty surrounding the state budget has created ripples of fear about reduced food stamp distributions and interrupted assistance benefits — fears that touch directly on how families will eat, heat their homes, and care for their children this winter.
At Angelus, we see the emotional side of these challenges every day. We also see the strength that comes from community — neighbors helping neighbors, organizations stepping in, and people who care enough to say, “You don’t have to face this alone.”
That’s why we’re not just talking about the problem; we’re taking action. Both our New Castle and Hermitage offices will host the Growing Hope Food Drive this season. All donations will be distributed to local food pantries across Lawrence and Mercer Counties, helping families in real time.
💭 The Hidden Weight of Scarcity: When Basic Needs Feel Out of Reach
When people face uncertainty about their most basic needs — food, utilities, medical care, housing, or clothing — the effects reach far beyond the physical. The fear of not having enough changes how we see ourselves and the world around us.
For adults, the constant worry of “How will I make it through this month?” can create an exhausting cycle of survival. It’s more than stress — it’s the kind of chronic tension that wears down the nervous system. Over time, it can surface as irritability, hopelessness, exhaustion, depression, anxiety, or emotional shutdown.
Children feel this stress deeply, even when adults try to shield them from it. They may sense tension at home, overhear conversations about money, or notice empty cupboards and skipped routines. This can quietly shift their developing sense of safety and belonging.
A child who feels insecure about their basic needs can grow into an adult who struggles with trust, self-worth, or fear of abandonment. In both children and adults, long-term instability can plant deep emotional roots — sometimes surfacing as anger, anxiety, or depression. These emotions deserve compassion, not shame.
When we meet someone’s physical needs — a warm meal, stable housing, food security — we’re also meeting their emotional needs for safety and dignity. Each small act of community care rebuilds hope.
Pennsylvanians struggle with food insecurity — including 1 in 6 children.
People in Lawrence and Mercer Counties rely on food assistance programs each year.
People with very low food security are six times more likely to experience anxiety compared to food-secure individuals
🌱 Small Acts, Big Impact: Everyday Ways to Help
Not everyone can donate large amounts of food or money — but every person can do something meaningful.
Kindness, shared consistently, creates the fabric of community.
Here are some small, ongoing ways to help that make a real difference:
🥫 Add a few extra canned goods or household items to your shopping list and drop them into local Blessing Boxes or community cupboards.
🍽️ Invite a friend or neighbor who might be struggling over for a warm meal.
📬 Leave surprise snacks or small care items in a neighbor’s mailbox, on a coworker’s desk, or on a friend’s doorstep — no reason needed.
🎒 Send an extra granola bar in your child’s lunchbox. Teach them to share it with a friend who might not have had breakfast that day.
💬 Check in on others. Ask how they’re really doing — and listen.
❤️ Don’t make assumptions. Don’t make judgments. Hard times can happen to anyone, and we’re all in this together.
Community Support Is for Everyone
If you are one of the many people feeling this strain right now — please know you are not alone, and you do not have to face it in silence. There is no shame in reaching out for help. Food pantries, community programs, and neighbors who care exist because everyone needs support sometimes. You deserve nourishment, stability, and compassion just as much as anyone else. Asking for help is not a failure — it’s an act of strength in a difficult time.
The Growing Hope Food Drive
Angelus invites those who are able to give what they can and join our Growing Hope Food Drive — a community effort to keep local food pantries stocked, support our neighbors, and remind one another that we’re all in this together.
A small act of giving, a big act of hope.
Drop-Off Locations:
Hope & Healing Center –New Castle
401 N. Jefferson St
New Castle, PA
Hope & Healing Center – Hemitage
2500 Highland Road
Suite 102
Hermitage, PA
We’ll be accepting nonperishable food, hygiene products, and paper goods throughout the winter and rotating donations among local pantries based on need.
If you know of additional food resources, meal sites, or local support programs not listed below — or if you notice a correction — please email officeadmin@angelustherapeuticservices.com.
A Shout-Out to Our Community 💬
Before diving into the lists below, we want to take a moment to recognize the incredible people and organizations who have been working tirelessly to gather, verify, and share these resources.
From county staff to church volunteers, from local nonprofits to everyday residents — so many have stepped up to compile, post, and circulate information to help others find support. It literally takes a village — a real, caring community — to connect people to the help they need.
Our list below was built by combining multiple public lists, shared posts, local directories, and word-of-mouth referrals. It represents the best of what happens when compassion meets collaboration.
If you are one of the people who helped make these supports visible, thank you. You are the heart of what “community” really means.
🌾 Local Food Resources
Below are active food supports across Lawrence and Mercer Counties, organized alphabetically by location for easy navigation.
LAWRENCE COUNTY FOOD SUPPORTS
Ellwood City
Divine Grace Food Pantry – 311 Lawrence Ave. | (724) 758-3465
Tue–Thu, 9 AM–12 PM & 1–4 PM.People in Need – Ellwood City Office – 229 Portersville Rd. | (724) 752-9114
Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed Wed).
Enon Valley
Little Beaver Food Pantry – 2176 PA-551 | (234) 855-5979
1st Friday monthly, 9 AM.
New Beaver
New Beaver Food Pantry – 898 Wampum New Galilee Rd. | (724) 535-8868
1st Friday monthly, 9–11 AM.
New Castle
Allegheny Wesleyan Church Food Pantry – 901 Vogan St. | (724) 601-7527
4th Thursday monthly, 10 AM–1 PM.City Rescue Mission Family Care Pantry – 319 S. Croton Ave. | (724) 652-4321
Mon–Fri, 9–11 AM & 12:30–3:30 PM (by appointment).City Rescue Mission Community Meals – 319 S. Croton Ave. | (724) 652-4321
Mon–Fri, 12:15–12:45 PM; Sat & Holidays, 1–1:30 PM; Sun, 5 PM.Feed My Sheep Pantry (Word of Life Family Church) – 449 S. Jefferson St. | (724) 658-8158
3rd Saturday monthly, 10 AM–12 PM. Emergency boxes available upon request.First Baptist Church Pantry – 984 Maitland Ln. | (724) 658-2507
1st & 3rd Wednesday monthly, 9 AM–12 PM.Glory Grille Community Lunch (First Presbyterian Church) – 125 N. Jefferson St. | (724) 652-7706
1st & 3rd Saturday monthly, 11:30 AM–1 PM.Holy Spirit Parish Food Bank – 1111 S. Cascade St. | (724) 652-3422 ext. 2205
Every Saturday, 9–10:30 AM.Inter-Church Food Pantry (City Rescue Mission) – 319 S. Croton Ave. | (724) 652-4321
Mon & Thu, 12:30–2:30 PM (by pastor referral).Lawrence County Community Action Partnership (LCCAP) – 1745 Frew Mill Rd. | (724) 658-7258
1st Friday monthly, 8 AM–2:30 PM or by appointment.New Life Breadbasket & Backpack Ministry – 346 E. Washington St. | (724) 979-2283
3rd Saturday, 9–10:30 AM. Backpack Ministry meets following Monday (Aug–May) 6–7:30 PM.Neshannock Presbyterian Church Pantry – 330 E. Lutton St. | (724) 658-7926
2nd Tuesday monthly, 9–11 AM.People in Need (Main Office) – 2703 W. State St. | (724) 657-3303
2nd Wednesday monthly, 2–4 PM. Non-perishable donations accepted.Salvation Army New Castle – 240 W. Grant St. | (724) 652-7921
Mon–Fri, 9 AM–2 PM. Monthly food boxes and holiday assistance.Shenango Presbyterian Church Pantry – 3144 Wilmington Rd. | (724) 654-2322
Last Thursday monthly, 10 AM.St. Joseph the Worker Parish – 1111 S. Cascade St. | (724) 658-1683
Hosts periodic meal programs; call for details.Union Reformed Presbyterian Church Pantry – 653 S. Freedom St. | (724) 658-7589
3rd Friday monthly, 10 AM–12 PM.
Wampum
Wampum Area Food Bank – Wampum Presbyterian Church | (724) 535-4302
Serving Wampum, Chewton, and Ellwood City communities.
Countywide
The NOW Project of Western Pennsylvania (Jubilee Ministries) – (724) 657-3884 | Jubilee@jubileeministriesint.com
Community food distributions across Lawrence County.Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest PA (Mobile Distribution) – nwpafoodbank.org
Rotating mobile events across the region.Highmark Wholecare Farm-to-Family Free Farmer’s Market – New Castle Area High School | 310 E. Lincoln Ave., New Castle
Nov 19, 3:30–5:30 PM (while supplies last).
MERCER COUNTY FOOD SUPPORTS
Countywide
Community Food Warehouse of Mercer County – 109 S. Sharpsville Ave., Sharon | (724) 981-0353
Central hub for over 30 area food programs.
Farrell
Prince of Peace Center – 502 Darr Ave. | (724) 346-5777
4th Tuesday, 9:30 AM–1:30 PM. Hot meals Mon & Wed, 2–4 PM. Clothing, thrift store, and utility aid.Valley Baptist Church – 500 Sharon New Castle Rd. | (724) 570-1395
2nd & 4th Tuesday, 1–5:30 PM (Hot meals 1–3 PM).
Hermitage
Central Christian Church – 218 Meadowbrook Rd. | (724) 347-1703
Free breakfast 2nd & 4th Saturday, 9–10:30 AM.Gentle Shepherd Church of the Nazarene – 3480 Shenango Valley Fwy. | (724) 342-7729
2nd & 4th Thursday, 4–6 PM.
Sharpsville
Orangeville Baptist Church – 7850 Orangeville Rd. | (724) 646-0825
Food, clothing, and household items.Sharpsville Gardens – 51 E. Shenango St. | (724) 962-9613
St. Bartholomew Catholic Church – 311 W. Ridge Ave. | (724) 962-7130
3rd Monday, 9–11 AM.
Sharon
Aware, Inc. – 109 D S. Sharpsville Ave. | (724) 342-4934
Cedar Avenue Church of God – 1045 Cedar Ave. | (724) 346-2404
4th Saturday, 9–11 AM.Christ Lutheran Church – 396 Buhl Blvd. | (724) 981-2070
3rd Thursday, 9–11 AM.
Personal Care Pantry: 1st Thursday 5–6 PM & 3rd Thursday 9–10 AM.Episcopal Community Services – 226 W. State St. | (724) 347-4501
3rd Thursday, 10:30 AM–12:30 PM.First Baptist Church – 301 W. State St. | (724) 347-7261
First United Methodist Church – 237 W. Silver St. | (724) 983-0200
Free breakfast Sundays, 9:30–10:30 AM.Oasis Center – 840 Highland Rd. | (724) 981-1731
4th Wednesday, 11 AM–4 PM.Salvation Army Sharon – 660 Fisher Hill St. | (724) 347-5537
Daily by appointment. Hot meals Fridays 9 AM–1 PM (seniors only).Sharon Community Health Center – 94 W. Connelly Blvd. | (724) 347-5529
Mon–Fri, 8 AM–5 PM.St. John’s Community Kitchen – 226 W. State St. | (724) 347-4501
Hot meals Saturdays, 11 AM–1 PM.St. Joseph’s Church – 79 Case Ave. | (724) 877-4171
1st & 3rd Fridays, 9:30–11 AM.St. Peter & Paul Church – 699 Stambaugh Ave. | (724) 347-3620
2nd & 4th Thursdays, 9–10 AM.West Hill Ministries – 301 W. State St. | (724) 347-7261
Daily meals, 4–5 PM.
Stoneboro
Stoneboro Presbyterian Church Pantry – 20 Elm St. | (724) 376-4135
2nd Wednesday, 9–11 AM.
West Middlesex
Church of the Good Shepherd – 3613 Sharon Rd. | (724) 528-3539
1st Wednesday, 9–10:30 AM.Neshannock Alliance Church – 3109 S. Keel Ridge Rd. | (724) 981-6554
Every other Tuesday, 9 AM–12 PM.
Wheatland
Community Arts Experience (CAE) – 75 Mercer Ave., Suite A | (866) 961-2239
Provides food, art-based programming, and community resources.
Additional Resources
Samaritan’s Closet – 237 W. Silver St., Sharon | (724) 983-0200
Clothing, household, and hygiene items available.ROAR Center – 912 E. State St., Suite F, Sharon | (724) 308-6222
Clothing, showers, breakfast, and lunch available Mon–Fri, 8 AM–2:30 PM.Orangeville Baptist Church (Sharpsville) – 7600 Orangeville Rd. | (724) 646-0825
Clothing and household items available.
💬 Final Thoughts
No one should ever have to choose between paying for food, heat, or medication. When we support one another — through a meal, a donation, or simply by listening — we begin to ease the weight that so many silently carry.
The fear of scarcity can leave invisible scars. But community can heal them. Together, we can make sure that no one in Lawrence or Mercer County has to face an empty cupboard or an empty heart alone.
Recent Comments