My life before Lebanon County Christian Ministries was as a paramedic for 25 years. I paid for my paramedic education by working summers at Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats in the smokehouses. I LOVED that job. I loved the people I worked with, I loved the physical labor, AND I loved the break time with fresh smoked sweet bologna. When we were presented the idea of a bologna sandwich, huge in size, and sponsorships to support LCCM – I was all in.
– Lebanon County Christian Ministries Executive Director, Bryan Smith
Since its establishment as a small food pantry in 1982, Lebanon County Christian Ministries (LCCM) has long been connecting members of the community with food, shelter, clothing, and guidance towards personal sustainability. With a vision to not just improve lives but to invest in people, executive director Bryan Smith states “we are not perfect, but we are committed to working with those who need a partner to assist them in their most difficult times.”
LCCM’s efforts and the fight against hunger in the Lebanon Valley are essential to the health of our community. According to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, around 13,750 people in Lebanon County experienced food insecurity in 2020. That’s approximately one out of every ten Lebanon County residents. Even further, nearly one in seven children were found to be food insecure during the same time period.
“We knew from the inception of this project that we wanted to give back to the community somehow,” says Visit Lebanon Valley President Jennifer Kuzo. “We wanted everyone to be part of the fun with the sandwich on the night of the fair, but we also wanted to take that community aspect a step further. That’s why we chose to partner with Lebanon County Christian Ministries to fight hunger in the Lebanon Valley.”
Alongside LCCM, we are hoping to “take a bite out of hunger” by sponsoring foot-long “bites” of the World’s Largest Lebanon Bologna Sandwich, which will be built at the Lebanon Area Fair this summer. Each foot-long sponsorship is $100, and all sponsorship funds will go directly to LCCM as a tax-deductible donation. Just look at how far each “bite” can go…
- $100 provides 50 free noon meals
- $200 provides a family of four with a supplemental food order
- $500 provides food for 10 single-person households
With our goal of a 150-foot sandwich, that’s a potential of $15,000 to be donated to LCCM. But this is where we need your help. In order to provide these meals to our community, we need to fill every foot of the sandwich with sponsorships. So, whether you own a business or just want to donate as an individual, please join us in this effort by filling out our sponsorship form here.
The sandwich will be assembled and unveiled on Tuesday, July 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lebanon Area Fair’s Community Night. All fairgoers will have the chance to enjoy a free slice of the sandwich once it is complete, and they can even top off their slice with their favorite pairings at the accompanying fixins’ bar.
Of course, a sandwich is only ever as good as the bread that goes along with it. That’s why we are so excited to be partnering with Chef Brian Peffley of the nationally recognized Pastry Arts Program at the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center. Serving as the Center’s pastry chef instructor for over 25 years, Chef Peffley has not only shared his craft with many of the area’s best up and coming student chefs, but he also knows a thing or two when it comes to making a delicious Lebanon Bologna Sandwich.
And what would a Lebanon Bologna sandwich be without the classic taste of Lebanon Bologna from our friends at Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats? Being a key member of our community, we knew their distinct flavors and tradition had to be a part of our event. And while this 150-foot sandwich will surely make for a fun (and delicious) time at the fair, the true impact will go far beyond the limits of a bologna sandwich…
For more information on the World’s Largest Lebanon Bologna Sandwich, click here.
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