The Power Packs Project recently found itself in a pickle.

Organizers wanted to expand the program, which provides food and recipes to families that rely on free or reduced-price school meals during the week so they can eat well on the weekends.

But Power Packs' Lancaster city warehouse was at full capacity, with no room to stockpile more food.

Enter the Lancaster Family YMCA.

In the first arrangement of its kind, the Y has agreed to partner with Power Packs to expand the program's reach to a 25th school in a new section of Lancaster County.

Beginning today, about 30 families from Hans Herr Elementary School will start receiving food at the Lampeter-Strasburg branch of the YMCA.

The alliance, announced Wednesday, is the first between the six-year-old Power Packs and an outside organization in the fight against "food insecurity."

"We welcomed it with open arms," said Jeff Kenderdine, chief executive officer of the YMCA. "It married perfectly with what our mission is and the impact we want to have in the community."

Under the arrangement, the Y will order, purchase, warehouse, pack and distribute the food, using its own employees and volunteers, including students in Lampeter-Strasburg High School's Interact Club.

Power Packs is providing the menus, as well as assistance with the ordering, packing and distribution of food, most of which will come from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. The organization also provided training and other support to help the Y get its program running.

Susquehanna Bank contributed to the effort by paying the $5,000 fee Power Packs is charging affiliates like the Y to participate in its program.

Each week, families of Hans Herr students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals will receive such staples as soup, peanut butter, pasta and cereal, along with ingredients and recipes for low-cost breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

The goal of Power Packs is two-fold: to assure that low-income students are well fed when they return to school each Monday and to help parents learn to stretch their food dollars by learning to make nutritious, inexpensive meals.

"By the end of the year, they will have a cookbook full of low-cost recipes," said Mara McGrann, Power Packs executive director.

The program, started in 2005 by Joan Espenshade at Carter & MacRae Elementary School in Lancaster, has expanded to 24 schools in the Lancaster, Manheim Township, Penn Manor and Warwick school districts.

Parents must come to the schools to pick up the food and recipes.

McGrann said she's hoping the partnership with the Y is the first of many for Power Packs, which relies on about 200 volunteers to deliver food to more than 2,000 children and adults in 600 families.

The program is funded with grants and contributions from businesses and individuals.

According to a recent survey of Power Packs participants, 97 percent said their children were healthier and missed less school since they started the program. Ninety-four percent said their children's performance at school had improved.

Currently, Power Packs serves only families in Lancaster County. But the organization would like to expand into other central Pennsylvania counties, McGrann said.

Nonprofit organizations interested in considering an affiliate partnership can get more information by sending an e-mail to affiliates@powerpacksproject.org.

bwallace@lnpnews.com