Discovery Space, State College Food Bank Partner for Free Admission

Discovery Space is partnering with a local food bank to help make science education more accessible for State College-area families.

The State College children’s science museum announced on Monday it has joined the Museums for All program and is now offering free admission to families that receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To take advantage of the offer, SNAP-eligible guests must show their card at Discovery Space’s front desk.

In a statement, Discovery Space said its partnership with the State College Food Bank continues its efforts to promote educational accessibility in the Centre Region.

“We have built Discovery Space from the ground up with generous community support, and those supporters donate to us because they share in our belief that places for hands-on, family STEM learning are assets for our community,” said Michele Crowl, Discovery Space’s executive director. “It’s our duty to be as accessible as possible, and the Museums for All program is a great avenue for doing just that.”

While SNAP benefits aid more than 40 million Americans each year, the program does not support every State College Food Bank client. To help, Discovery Space said it has donated passes to the food bank that will help more families receive free museum admission.

Allayn Beck, State College Food Bank executive director, said the Discovery Space partnership will help local families in need continue pursuing a healthy lifestyle.

“Being able to offer this community resource to the families we serve is a wonderful opportunity,” Beck said. “So often, when families are struggling to make ends meet, visiting places like Discovery Space are just not an option. At the Food Bank, we recognize feeding people is only a portion of solving the needs of our community. There are many dimensions to wellness, and spending an afternoon having fun as a family supports healthy living across several of those dimensions.”

Discovery Space’s partnership comes after it joined the Museums for All initiative, which works to provide free or reduced museum admission for those receiving SNAP benefits. Museums for All currently serves more than 1,000 museums throughout the United States, including Boalsburg’s Pennsylvania Military Museum and the Pasto Agricultural Museum in Pennsylvania Furnace.

Visit Museums for All’s website to find a participating museum near you or browse a full list of contributing organizations.

Discovery Space, located at 1224 N. Atherton St. in State College, works to provide exhibits, programs, summer camps, field trips and more that deliver hands-on science and technology experiences for all ages. Earlier this year, the non-profit museum opened a new state-of-the-art weather exhibit powered by AccuWeather maps and data.

The State College Food Bank, located at 1321 S. Atherton St., has served the local community since 1982. Visit its website to learn more about donating items, browse volunteer opportunities or check if you’re eligible to use the food bank.