Shippensburg Borough Council heard from Karen DeShong, president of Shippensburg Produce and Outreach at their Feb. 20 meeting. DeShong gave council members and
update on the organization and its growing impact and importance to the community.
SPO, as DeShong noted the nonprofit is known by its customers, operates food distribution every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. from their location on Prince Street.
In 2022, SPO purchased over $100,000 worth of food for distribution. Due to increasing costs, a growing client list, and the absorption of services from the closure of Kings
Kettle, that figure ballooned to $155,000 in 2023.
DeShong reported that SPO would be undertaking a sustainability study to determine ways to better serve the community while keeping costs from rising at such rates in the future. She also noted the issues with traffic as has been discussed at previous borough council meetings, suggesting that finding a solution would also be a part of the study.
Other business included approving a list of dates for exceptions to the borough’s open container ordinance. These include First Fridays and New Year’s Eve celebrations, as well as other events.
Council also approved the D.O.I.T. Christmas Garland fundraiser. Those interested will be able to sponsor garlands to be hung on street lights. The price for a garland with a personalized tag will be $300, while one without will be $250.
The evening also saw a discussion of the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB). Council members began discussion on the residency requirements for HARB’s member list, which have made it difficult to maintain consistent membership.
The conversation later shifted to the future of HARB and the historic district. Some council members raised the idea of shifting from preserving a historic district to
preserving specific structures.
Council members also heard from Pennsylvania State Police Carlisle Station Commander Bryan Henneman. He reported that the station had responded to 19,155
calls in 2023, 398 of those in the borough.