Our History
"FEED MY PEOPLE" was the message that Doris received in 1986. It was then that Doris and Glenn Wolff began a food ministry journey that is still flourishing today. It started simply as compiling nonperishable canned good supplies and storing them in their garage. Word of mouth spread their message, that anyone who was in need of food for their family was welcome to come into their home and help themselves from their shelves. In 1989, Doris and Glenn purchased a property at 413 Baltimore Street, Hanover, PA. The two-unit apartment building allowed them to live on the second floor, and the first floor became the home of "God’s Meal Barrel". In the early years of the food pantry, the Meal Barrel served daily hot meals, as well as, providing groceries to those in need. Doris and Glenn were blessed with family and friends from their church and the community willing to volunteer their time to assist with preparing food and serving those in the community that were less fortunate. In 1990, Doris and Glenn were named as one of President George H. Bush’s 1000 Points of Light, a national tribute to voluntarism. Glenn Wolff passed in 2007, and while there were times that Doris contemplated closing the Meal Barrel, she continued on with her mission. Giant Foods and Weis Markets started to provide help to the Meal Barrel, with bread and other items. Donations from corporate sponsors like the "Paul Newman Foundation" began coming in, as well as donations, both personal and corporate, from throughout the Hanover area. For over thirty years whenever the shelves got low, or the checkbook was near empty, blessings appeared and the Meal Barrel was able to continue the mission of providing for those in need. Wolff passed on December 18, 2022. Today, we continue to serve all, in her loving memory. We are honored to carry on her tradition of care and love. MISSION STATEMENT
To provide an open food pantry to feed those in need, without questions or qualifications. To treat all of our patrons with respect and dignity and encourage them to pay it forward when they have the means to do so.
