Denice Stone and the start of the Blair County Food Drive

BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Denice Stone’s decision to create the Blair County Food Drive was solely based on her being at the right place, at the right time. She remembers it like it was yesterday.

Denice was in line waiting to pay for her items, when she noticed a young mom with two children in front of her. The mother was struggling to pay for her groceries.

“She just kept saying to the cashier, Okay can you put that back? Can you put that back?’ And she got down to where she had like 3 or 4 items, and I was like Oh my goodness’. So, I rushed out the door, went out to the parking lot, and I heard her story,” Denice said.

That’s when the Blair County native realized she had to do something. So, in 2003, she started the Blair County Food Drive, and the rest is history.

“I felt like I had this calling; that it was something that I needed to do,” Denice said.

Even though the work was hard, Denice said she never had any doubts.

“I just knew that it needed done, and it was definitely a learning process. Started out at the one grocery store, separating things at my house. [I] changed that real fast the next year, and started moving to the Hollidaysburg School District where I separated food every year since. And it has allowed me grow the food drive,” Denice said.

The Blair County Food Drive is usually one week long and is held annually right before Thanksgiving. In 2023, the drive supported 14 local non-profit organizations in Blair County.

When last year’s food drive ended, Denice said that she was approached by six additional organizations, asking for help with food.

Thankfully, Denice had the opportunity to host another food drive in the spring, which has always been a goal of hers.

I think having so many groups that needed the help in the fall helped motivate me to get to this point a little faster,” Denice said.

This Spring, the food drive will benefit the following non-profit organzations:

This year, financial donors have offered to give out 4 scholarships valued at $1,000 each for kids going on to college or trade school, that have been volunteering with the food drive.

The next Blair County Food Drive will be held from March 25 to 30 at Sam’s Club in Altoona.