Everyone deserves access to fresh food — no matter what. Our new Farm to Neighbor Fund is all about connecting people with where their food comes from and making sure everyone in our community has enough to eat.
We launched this at the beginning of November 2025 and were so encouraged by the community’s response. Many people stepped forward in need, and just as many showed up to help.
We now partner with Community Services of Venango County to help make this happen. Here’s how it works:
NEED FOOD?
Community members who could use some help getting food on the table have the opportunity to come in and shop for free. How to sign up:
- Contact Community Services at (814) 676-5011 or stop into their Oil City Food Pantry at 203 Center Street.
- Mention you’re interested in the Core Goods Farm to Neighbor shopping program.
- They’ll ask a few simple questions (based on criteria we’ve set together) to see if you’re a good fit for the program.
- If you do qualify, you’ll receive a card to bring to Core Goods, explaining how it works and how often you can shop for free.
- If you do not qualify, Community Services will help connect you with other local food resources. If you qualify, but all spots are full, you’ll be added to a waiting list.
This program is first-come, first-served. We’ve set a specific number of shoppers who can come in once a week for four weeks. After that, we’ll start fresh and open up new spots for others to join.
WANT TO HELP?
We’d love to keep this going as an ongoing community initiative, and that’s only possible because of your generosity. As of March 2026, we’ve raised about $7,000 for the Farm to Neighbor Fund, and we’re so thankful for your support!
Here’s how you can give:
- In-store: Give through cash, check, or card at the checkout. Just let us know it’s for the Farm to Neighbor Fund.
- Online: Visit our payment site here to give with a card online.
- By mail: Send checks to Core Goods, 2 E 1st St, Oil City, PA 16301 and note “Farm to Neighbor” in the memo.
Every dollar goes through our register so we can keep clear track of what’s given and how it’s used. If there’s ever extra money, we’ll use it to buy local produce for food pantries — something we already do and hope to do even more of.
While we’ll have a few simple guidelines, this isn’t a rigid process. The whole thing runs on an honor system, and we trust our community to use it with care and respect. We’ll stay flexible, make substitutions when needed, and figure things out together, neighbor to neighbor.
Our goal is simple: no one goes hungry, and our farmers and small food producers are supported along the way.
And a big shoutout to People’s Provisions in Perry County, PA, for inspiring us! They’ve been running a similar program for years and have given more than $30,000 worth of food boxes to their community — an amazing example of what’s possible when local food and community care come together.