Food Donation Drive

🇺🇸🧃 September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance — Youth-Led Food Drive 🥫💙

In honor of the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, the teens at CYS McConnell Youth Center are teaming up with YSA (Youth Service America) and Americorps to lead a community-wide Food Donation Drive. This fun and meaningful initiative gives youth a hands-on way to serve others and build empathy, while recognizing the power of kindness and unity that emerged in the wake of 9/11.

From July 29 to September 5, the Youth Center and Carlisle Barracks Exchange will be accepting donations of healthy, shelf-stable food items to support our local food pantry, which serves veterans and active duty families experiencing food insecurity.

🛒 What to Donate Our goal is to collect nutritious items that support health and well-being. Examples include:

• Pantry Staples: cooking oils, vinegars, spices, sauces (tomato), peanut butter, shelf-stable milk, 100% fruit juice
• Healthy Snacks: nuts, popcorn, whole wheat crackers, applesauce
• Canned Goods: tuna, chicken, salmon, low-sodium vegetables and beans, fruit in 100% juice, low-sodium soups
• Whole Grains: brown rice, oatmeal, whole wheat pasta
• Condiments: mustard, ketchup, mayo

💡 Note: Please check all expiration, best-by, or sell-by dates. Items expiring within two months cannot be accepted. We also kindly discourage high-sugar, high-sodium, or processed donations.

📍 Where to Donate

• McConnell Youth Center – 459 Bouquet Rd., Carlisle, PA 17013
• Carlisle Barracks Exchange (AAFES PX) – 844 Sumner Rd., Carlisle, PA 17013

📞 For more info: (571) 821-8450 📧 Email: CarlisleCYS-MST@army.mil

Let’s come together, inspired by a day of remembrance and service, to make a real difference. 🧡 The youth of McConnell are proud to lead the charge—help them fill the shelves and hearts of our community!