Lackawanna College Helping Food Pantry Shortage

Scranton, Lackawanna County - Students from Lackawanna College marked World Food Day by donating food to a Scranton food pantry in desperate need of help.

Right now, the shelves inside the United Neighborhood Centers on Olive Street are almost empty.

That has led to problems for families who are in need.

"We actually put a sign on the door a few weeks ago that we were temporarily out of food," Pam Berg said.

The organization got help Tuesday morning as students from Lackawanna College donated food that was recently collected on campus.

"It has inspired me to do more, to want to be a part of a social service club where we call ourselves Falcon Flyers," freshman Alex Barragan said.

The collection isn't the only way students are helping their community.

Since the beginning of the semester, an ecology class has been growing lettuce using "earthbox technology."

"We've been challenged with the environment here with some animal interactions. We've been challenged with the environment as far as temperature," professor Lynn DeSanto said.

Planting began the first week of classes and students have been caring for the seedlings.

"It does actually make you feel good knowing you're going to be helping your community," sophomore Mason Sabatell said. "I mean, just being able to give something back."

When looking at the need in the Scranton-area, food pantry workers say every little bit helps.

"August, September and October have been very difficult for us," Berg said. "We've been stretched out. What money we did have has helped out as much as it possibly could."