Nettle Creek Community Coalition is soliciting canned fruit and vegetables to support its food pantry. In light of reduced federal funding to supplement food purchases, the nonprofit has seen a third of its food allocation decrease compared with previous years.
Located at 47 E. Main St., Hagerstown, the pantry was founded by Jefferson Township Trustee Chris Lane, in response to a growing need for food assistance. Today, the sole public food pantry in the area serves Hagerstown, Cambridge City, Greens Fork, Economy, Dalton, Milton, Dublin, Pershing, Losantville, Jacksonburg, Williamsburg and surrounding rural areas.
Pantries Director Krisann Kincaid said NCCC relies on grants, private donations and community support for its work. Volunteers support the nonprofit beyond its five daily members and five-member board of directors. Several community partners assist with services and resources beyond food assistance that “help ensure that no one in our community has to face food insecurity alone.”
Kincaid said supplemental funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture drastically reduced the amount of food purchased through the Emergency Food Assistance Program. And, other programs that helped purchase goods from local farmers were discontinued or reduced last year. Together, these changes have left food banks and pantries nationwide looking for other options.
“The full impact is still being determined, but nonprofits like ours are already seeing reduced food availability and higher costs to replace products that were previously provided through federal programs,” Kincaid said. She added that if federal funding or alternatives aren’t offered, local options will play a more significant role in fighting food insecurity.
Canned goods from 2025 or newer can be left in NCCC’s 24-hour dropbox. Monetary donations are always accepted through nettlecreekcommunitycoalition.org, and are tax-deductible for individuals or businesses. For more information, call 765-489-3394.
A version of this article appeared in the June 10 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
