According to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, almost 75,000 people in Lancaster County are food insecure. One in five children in the county lacks consistent access to enough food to live an active and healthy life. Northwest EMS is working to address this problem.

For the month of February, the organization is holding its annual food drive to benefit local food banks. Donations will be accepted at the Elizabethtown EMS station, 380 W. Bainbridge St., or at the Manheim EMS station, 60 W. Colebrook St.

"Our first food drive was in February of 2015," said Lori Shenk, community outreach manager. "The February food drive, like many of our other outreach initiatives, is an opportunity to connect with individuals in the communities that we serve in hopes that we can impact individual health and community health."

Northwest EMS serves 12 townships and three boroughs, covering more than 200 square miles of response area in Lancaster, Dauphin and Lebanon counties. The organization operates from stations in Elizabethtown, Maytown, Manheim and Brickerville. "(Food drive) donations are delivered to the three food banks geographically located within our primary response district - specifically, the Elizabethtown Community Cupboard, the East Donegal/Conoy (Christian) Food Bank and the Manheim Central Food (Pantry)," Shenk explained.

She noted that the food drive allows people the flexibility to donate items on their own schedule.

"Most people would happily support their community food banks but find it difficult to coordinate delivery of items on the schedule the food banks might have for receiving donations," Shenk stated. "By hosting a monthlong event and accepting donations at our stations, we make it easy for everyone. Since we are a 24-hour department, simply bring your donations to us and we will take care of everything else."

The collection runs through Sunday, Feb. 28. "Beginning on Monday, March 1, all of the donations will be gathered in one location and sorted for delivery," she said. "All three food banks will receive the donations during the week of March 1, according to when they have volunteers to accept the donations."

Shenk encourages anyone to make donations, adding that people should avoid donating outdated food or food that will expire within the first few days of March. "If someone wanted to contribute perishable items, they need to coordinate that with me so that I can ensure proper handling of that item," she noted.

For more information on the food drive, readers may contact Shenk at 717-371-8282 or lshenk@nwems86.org.