BLOOMING GROVE TOWNSHIP, PA — A deli tucked away in Pike County has quietly become a lifeline for hundreds of seniors, preparing and delivering more than 62,000 meals annually — and it’s made possible in part by Pennsylvania Lottery funding.
Ryan’s Deli, located at 707 PA-739 in Blooming Grove Township, is owned by Mike and Kim Spencer. The business works in partnership with the Pike County Area Agency on Aging to provide over 1,200 meals each week to five senior centers, a program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic after the Pike County Jail, a former provider, could no longer continue food operations.
What began as a temporary two-day-a-week solution turned into a long-term contract. Funded through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging using Lottery proceeds, the initiative now reaches over 225 homebound seniors across the county.
Ryan’s Deli receives meal orders and a menu each month, prepares and packages the food, and delivers it to three central locations and two additional “centers without walls.” From there, staff and volunteers help get the meals directly to seniors’ homes, offering not only nutrition but regular check-ins and much-needed social contact.
The Pennsylvania Lottery plays a key role in funding this service, which is part of a broader mission to support older residents through food programs, rent and property tax rebates, transportation assistance, and more.
In addition to their meal efforts, Ryan’s Deli has been a licensed Lottery retailer since 2017, offering games and products that directly support the very programs they help implement.
Ryan’s Deli is sharing its story this week as part of Lottery Week, an annual recognition of the impact state lotteries have in communities across North America.
