Published: August 08, 2008 09:38 pm            

Bethlehem retiree directs Walnut Grove pantry

With the local economy in a moderate downturn and the cost of just about every essential escalating in price, Ken Reed’s role at the Walnut Grove Emergency Food Bank has become increasingly valuable.

For the past two years, Reed has been the director of the food bank, which serves parts of the East end of Johnstown.

“Our food pantry’s been in existence since 1982,” the 73-year-old Reed said.

Reed, who is retired from Bethlehem Steel Corp., has plenty of assistance at the pantry, which supplies goods for residents of Geistown, part of Hornerstown, Dale, Walnut Grove and the Solomon Homes area.

“We have seven people that help, and we service, probably, in the neighborhood of 150 people a month,” Reed said. “That’s not families, that’s just the people. We get a lot of donations from area churches and civic organizations. We try to service the people. It’s a big job.”

The pantry is open the first and third Thursdays of every month from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Reed is a member of Walnut Grove Church of the Brethren, which runs the pantry, and is chairman of its properties management commission.

“I’ve gone to church here ever since I was a baby,” Reed said Monday while standing across from the Bedford Street church that was built in 1916. “So, that’s a long time.

“I’ve always been a religious person,” he added. “I’ve enjoyed being part of my church. If you trust in the Lord, things will go well.”

Reed was born in the Walnut Grove section of Johnstown and was the youngest of four children. He has lived most of his life up the hill from the city off Frankstown Road in Conemaugh Township, Cambria County. Reed graduated from the former Franklin High in 1953, worked at Conemaugh Engraving for a few years after school, then did a stint in the Army Reserve.

When he came back to the area after serving in the armed forces, Reed found employment with Westinghouse Supply, Hickory Street in Hornerstown.

He started work at Bethlehem in 1960, and labored in the computer operations – information services – department until they shut the plant.

Bethlehem Steel once was the second-largest steel producer in the country – after Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel – and employed a large segment of the Greater Johnstown work force when the mill was in its heyday.

“I spent 321/2 years with them,” Reed said. “I was58 years old at the time they shut it down. So, I’ve been retired for awhile.”

Reed has been married to his wife, Helen, for 47 years, and they have two sons, David and Jeffrey, and a daughter, Dawna.

Reed said he likes to hunt, and he used to have a boat, but doesn’t have time for that anymore. He built his house and garage, which he described as “big.” And soon he’ll be driving a bus for the Cambria County Christian School near Mundys Corner.

“I drive a school bus in the fall,” Reed said. “So, my life is pretty filled.”

Reed said he also golfs in the GTE retirees league, hitting a different link every Monday.

When asked how his game was, Reed replied, “Could be better. The older I get, the worse I get, I think sometimes.”

        

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