Joe Bilka never imagined that food insecurity affected students of all backgrounds on the Penn State Altoona campus until he heard about it through one of his GO-60 program classes.

Bilka, a lifelong Altoona resident, grew up in the community and attended Guilfoyle High School before enrolling at Penn State Altoona and later transferring to University Park. He graduated in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and went on to teach history, civics, and courses focused on democracy in Philadelphia. After some time, he decided to return to Altoona, where he worked in the corporate world, raised a family, and eventually retired.

Retirement, however, didn’t slow him down.

Bilka began his return to Penn State Altoona as a student, taking one course per semester over the past five to six years. His studies have included classes in human development and family studies, psychology, sociology, and criminology. One of his most meaningful projects was creating a children’s book rooted in psychological concepts like courage and resilience.

While participating in Penn State’s GO-60 program, a learning initiative for older adults, he stumbled upon Ivyside Eats through Sue Patterson, the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learning about the challenges students faced and how hunger was becoming an issue on the campus left him in shock.

“I said, ‘What? What are you talking about?’ In my head, I just didn’t realize how many students around me didn’t have food, and that thought left me wanting to take action,” he said.

Determined to help, Bilka reached out to his church and pastor, presenting the need to help students fight hunger. The response was immediate. Both churches he approached committed to supporting Ivyside Eats by collecting a list of specific foods and items that were needed each month.

He also contacted DelGrosso Foods, a well-known local business, to help with donations, including pasta sauce, to help provide students with easy, nutritious meals.

In just the past year, through Bilka’s efforts, Ivyside Eats has been able to serve 815 students. The program projects assisting between 700 and 900 students this year while distributing approximately 700 to 1,000 pounds of food. Many students visit the pantry regularly, and without the support of others, they could be left fighting from hunger.

Bilka’s involvement is simply part of who he is. Beyond Ivyside Eats, his past has consisted of being a grief counselor at The Healing Patch, officiating PI Double-A athletics, and refereeing basketball games, just to name a few.

“‘I have gotten so much out of it,” Bilka said. “It’s just about giving back however you can.”

One of the most rewarding aspects of the initiative has been seeing the overwhelming support from his churches, organizations, and all the people in the community who previously had little to no connection to the campus.

“When I go to classes now, I can sit there knowing that students can have something to eat,” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of dignity. Students are never questioned about their need for food, but are always given it whenever needed for the importance that it serves.

“It’s hard to study if you’re hungry,” Bilka said.

Looking ahead, Bilka hopes to inspire other students and people to get involved. Whether that be through volunteering, working at campus events, or giving back in whatever ways they can.

“Everyone has value,” he said. “There are so many ways to pay it forward.”

While Bilka hopes for a future where no student has to worry about their next meal, his work stands as proof of what can happen when compassion, community, and commitment come together. By bringing people from across the campus and local community together, he has created more than a food pantry and strengthened a shared purpose to support students in need.

Through Ivyside Eats, Bilka continues to prove that meaningful change often begins with simply paying attention and choosing to act.