Community Partnership welcomes public to new facility
FRANKLIN TWP — Dozens gathered to celebrate the new home of Butler County’s Community Partnership at an open house Thursday, Nov. 14.
The event drew friends and family, community members, and partnering agencies for a chance to learn about agency programs, meet the board and sample some “late-harvest” food prepared by the agency’s nutrition specialist, Chris Wolff, and other agency staff.
Community Partnership is a grant-funded community action agency that coordinates and develops initiatives in the areas of agriculture, food security and economic development.
The former site of the Artisan Catering Company, the agency’s new home at 781 New Castle Road features a fully-equipped commercial kitchen, indoor and outdoor dining and event space, and 5 acres.
“We wanted to have people in so they can meet us and talk about our vision for the property,” Community Partnership executive director Sandra Curry said. The agency previously leased space on McCune Drive in Butler.
The new facility will boost visibility of the agency, she said.
“We want to be in the community more, be more visible,” Curry said. “We are looking to make this a ‘resilience hub’ that will provide forward-facing programs to the public. The open house is intended to cultivate a sense of community around this space.”
Board chairwoman Peg Harper said the agency has high hopes for the facility.
“This will be a place people can come to learn skills — cooking skills, gardening skills, and more,” she said. “With 5 acres, we plan on putting in walking trails, hosting classes and planting gardens that can support our community produce cart.”
Nutrition education and culinary entrepreneurship are among the programs to be offered in the new facility.
Wolff, who holds a degree in culinary arts and will be teaching some of the agency’s nutrition programs, said the open house menu was designed to showcase healthy and convenient options.
“My goal is to bring people here, to teach people how to make healthy eating at home an event you can be proud of,” he said.
Curry and Harper said they believe the site on Route 422 will be “infinitely” more accessible than the agency’s previous, in-town offices and allow them to deliver programs to all parts of the county.
“There is disproportionate access to services,” Curry said. “The further north you go, the more difficult it is to find resources. We want to connect with community leaders to get them involved, so they see what we have to offer.”
Community partners were on hand to share health and nutrition resources.
“We are here to fulfill a need, and that need is bringing healthy, sustainable food to people who need it,” said Ryan Scott, of Evans City, who attended with business partner Andrew Beers to demonstrate an indoor, hydroponic device.
“We really like what Dr. Curry and the team are doing to help people develop their food supply,” Beers said. “We want to be part of the solution to food insecurity.”
Representatives of Geisinger Health Plan were also on site to build a relationship with Community Partnership, according to Geisinger health services specialist Lauren Burlett.
“Our goal is to get people connected to organizations for food, transportation, education and other resources to help them stay healthy,” said Geisinger wellness associate Joseph Grill.
Community Partnership’s Curry said the open house will launch a new era in the agency’s programming.
“We’d like to buy this property at some point,” she said. “We have lots of goals for the agency and the community. This is just the beginning.”
