Mercer County Food Bank Expands Mobile Pantry Program

Pop-up pantries provide greater access to food assistance throughout the county.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 9:51am

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Mercer County Food Bank is expanding its mobile pantry program, hosting pop-up food distributions on the third Saturday of each month. The drive-thru model allows the food bank to serve more people in need across the county, including those who may not be able to access traditional pantry hours during the workweek.

Why it matters

The mobile pantry program was born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the need for food assistance spiked. By bringing the pantry directly to communities, the food bank is able to better serve residents who may face transportation or scheduling barriers to accessing traditional food pantries.

The details

Mercer County Food Bank's mobile pantry distributions take place on the third Saturday of each month from 11am to 1pm. The next event will be held at Reynolds Elementary School, where the food bank expects to serve around 400 people. The drive-thru model allows recipients to quickly get the assistance they need without having to leave their vehicles.

  • The mobile pantry distributions take place on the third Saturday of each month.
  • The next distribution is scheduled for March 21, 2026 from 11am to 1pm.

The players

Mercer County Food Bank

A nonprofit organization that provides food assistance to residents throughout Mercer County, Pennsylvania.

Alexis Spence-Locke

The development director at Mercer County Food Bank.

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What they’re saying

“Being able to serve through this mobile pantry model allows us to support our agencies and the work that they're doing. Our agencies are boots on the ground, but sometimes they do need a little bit of help to get through to, basically, meet the needs. It's helping us meet the needs of all the neighbors throughout the county.”

— Alexis Spence-Locke, Development Director, Mercer County Food Bank

What’s next

Mercer County Food Bank plans to continue hosting its monthly mobile pantry distributions to provide greater food access to residents in need throughout the county.

The takeaway

Mercer County Food Bank's innovative mobile pantry program is a model for how food banks can adapt to better serve their communities, especially during times of increased need. By bringing the pantry directly to people, the organization is able to reach more residents who may face barriers to accessing traditional food assistance.