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Our programs are busier than ever and we're readying for holiday donation drives, coat giveaways, and some exciting fundraisers ahead.
At the same time, things are changing fast, and in many ways they're getting harder. Funding for our services has been delayed (in some cases eliminated) at state and national levels, SNAP is being overhauled with harsher requirements, and keeping up with the need right now is exceptionally hard.
It's difficult to convey the impacts because they're so widespread and interconnected. But in September, a group of agency leaders from CAA and the surrounding area had a conversation about the direct impacts of budget standstills on our local residents, economies, and long-term health. You can read the article in The Standard Journal here.
As always, thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting our mission in any way you can.
Through this newsletter, you'll learn more about the challenges local families are facing, the solutions we’re putting into action, and the small ways you can make a big difference. Together, we’re creating pathways to self-sufficiency and building stronger communities for all.
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Pop Up Produce Stand: Our free produce stand has served over 900 community members since May and is winding down now. Thank you to the Lewisburg Community Garden, Union County Conservation District, Dreamcatcher Farms, Hickory Run Homestead, Bucknell Farm, and all of the local partners who made our program possible this year!
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Dining with Diabetes: Our DWD class series kicked off in September in partnership with Penn State Extension & Union-Snyder Agency on Aging. 11 participants are learning how best to manage their diabetes diagnosis for themselves or a loved one at no cost. CAA sponsors this class to increase access to diabetes-friendly nutrition education and provides meal kits to each participant that correspond to Penn State's recipes demonstrated in class!
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Everyday Hero Awards: We honored a long-time Food Hub volunteer, Philippe Dubois, at the Woodlands Bank Everyday Hero Breakfast on 8/20! Thank you to Philippe for all of the work you've helped us do and for your commitment to our community.
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Pop-Up Community Picnic: In August, we joined Eat Share & Susquehanna Valley Ethical Society's Pop-Up Picnic in Mifflinburg to offer a homemade meal to the community!
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Lewisburg Community Garden Tour: We joined elected officials and other key partners at the Lewisburg Community Garden for a tour with Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding, to highlight how our food programs collaborate with the Garden and other local growers and producers. Those present included Matt Wise, from the Office of Senator Yaw, Jen Schneidman Partica of Bucknell Farm & Lewisburg Community Garden, Lewisburg Mayor Kendy Alvarez, Drew Popish from the Office of Governor Shapiro, and Ethan Howard of Penn State Extension.
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Feed-A-Friend Food Drive: The annual drive runs October 14th - November 26th. We invite all our local supporters to organize a food collection with your youth group, co-workers, classroom, etc. ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday! All donations will be accepted at the Food Hub in Lewisburg & redistributed to our 40+ local food access programs.
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Contact Shelly Sholley, Food Hub Assistant, to learn more & coordinate details! Msholley@union-snydercaa.org
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We hosted our annual Hunger Coalition 5K in September and raised over $5,000 for food security programs in our community! Thank you to all who volunteered, donated, sponsored, and took part in the race! We couldn't do this without you.
| | [Image: Collage of CAA staff, partners, volunteers, elected officials, and 5K participants throughout the summer.] | | CORE Susquehanna AmeriCorps: | | We're off to the races! Our 2025-26 term has begun and we've onboarded 10 members at 9 sites (6 of which are brand new to CORE!). Our partners for the year are DIG Furniture Bank, Chesapeake Conservancy, Lewisburg Children's Museum, Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, YWCA Northcentral, Sojourner Truth Ministries, Transitions of PA, Sunbury's Revitalization, and Central Susquehanna Sight Services. We spent September prepping for orientation, getting our members First Aid and CPR certified, and helping the Lewisburg Children's Museum prep for the season ahead. We've got a packed year of service and we can't wait! | | [Image: Collage of CORE Susquehanna AmeriCorps staff and members at orientation and service project events.] | | |
We've been boosting our outreach efforts to connect with more people across the Valley. You may have seen us tabling at the Snyder County and Lewisburg Night Out events, the CJAB Recidivism Reduction conference, the Eat Share Community Meal in Mifflinburg Park, the Selinsgrove Street Fair, McClure Bean Soup Festival, Snyder County Children & Youth Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway, and more! Across these events we've engaged with over 800 new community members to share our work.
If your organization is hosting or taking part in a community event and would like for us to table, reach out to our Administrative Director, Rachel Reeher at rreeher@union-snydercaa.org
| [Image: Collage of CAA staff and partners at Summer 2025 outreach events.] | | |
We're raising awareness around what CAA does with merch options that highlight our food, energy, and housing programs! If you wear one of our eye-catching shirts, don't be surprised when someone asks you about CAA in the grocery line :)
We want everyone to know who we are and how we help, so grab a shirt and tell your neighbors!
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Sometimes the need in our community feels overwhelming—and lately, it's been growing faster than expected. Families are facing hard choices between which essentials they can afford. Parents are skipping meals to keep the lights on. Seniors are going without basics. We’re here to help, but the truth is: we really can’t do it alone.
We’ve always done a lot with a little. But right now, the growth of our donor base matters more than ever. As local and national resources shift, we’re turning to you—our community—to help us stay strong and responsive when other resources dry up.
If you've ever thought about giving, this is the moment. Your donation directly supports critical services and the future of it truly depends on you.
| | Upcoming CAA and Community Events: | | |
CAA Fundraiser at Hoss's Steak & Sea in Shamokin Dam on October 24th:
| CAA Feed-A-Friend Food Drive October 14th-November 26th (more details to come on social media!) | CAA Budgeting for Stability Class will be held October 22, November 14, and December 1, in person at CAA or via Zoom. Registration and details HERE. | | |
Find us in the following places: |
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