The Columbia Food Bank

Who We Are

Simply put: we exist to help end food insecurity in Lancaster County. The Columbia Food Bank provide meals, support, friendship, and assistance to those in need in our community. We promote health, nutrition, human dignity, and potential and we have been nourishing the bodies and spirits of people in Columbia, Mountville, West Hempfield, and Manor Townships for over 30 years.

Our History

In the mid-1950’s, Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church included a ministry of Episcopal Church Women (ECW). This organization served free, hot lunches to people of the community six days a week on the second floor of the parish hall. Over time, it became evident that many of the people who came for lunch did not have enough food to start or end the day. In essence, they lived in hunger – men, women, and children. In order to help these people, the ECW started sending them home with groceries after each lunch. The Saint Paul's food bank was born.

Since then, we have elected to forego all government support (which was contingent on little or no screening) and become a self-sufficient organization, even though it meant losing free food and government-provided refrigeration equipment. The food bank instituted a screening and qualification system that is still used today. Since 2010, the Food Bank has handled 225 tons of groceries to provide 421,964 meals to 19,676 people in 10,128 households. 30% of our clients are 0 to 17 years of age, 54% are ages 18 to 59, and 16% are 60 and older.

In 2013, The Columbia Food Bank became a separate corporation with its own 501 (c) (3) designation and on September 18, 2014, The Columbia Food Bank received its non-profit status as a charitable organization.

Our Hope

Our goal is to provide healthy meal options with the food available in our inventory. The amount of food provided is enough for 24 to 25 meals per month for each eligible adult and child in a single household. An adult with three children would receive enough food for 96 to 100 meals each month. It is our hope that you will support our mission through a donation during the Extraordinary Give!