York man who grew up in poverty now volunteers as handyman at food bank

Lou Stubbs helps with maintenance work with the York County Food Bank because “there wasn’t something like this” to help when he was young.

Written by: Anthony Machcinski
Lou Stubbs (Photo by Ken Bruggeman/Our York Media)

Lou Stubbs grew up knowing he was different than his suburban classmates.

He lived on the outskirts of the city in a home without an indoor bathroom. He and his siblings survived on ham, potato, and string bean dinners while being raised by an alcoholic father suffering from PTSD.

When he was 12, the state removed the children from their father’s care. He remembers sitting in the back of a car being handed his baby sister and told to quiet her down.

“The other kids came to me, and I had to get over it real quick,” Lou says. “At that point, I was the father figure.”

***

Within weeks of leaving their home, Lou’s three sisters were put in foster care while the three boys were moved to the Children’s Home of York.

Looking back, he didn’t mind the home. It gave him a safe space to live while teaching him trades that he used in the U.S. Army for 23 years and as a maintenance man later in life.

I can sit around the house all day long and watch TV until I go blind, but I’d rather be busy.

quotecircle
Lou Stubbs

When it came time for him to retire, Lou figured he could put his skills as a handyman to good use.

“I can sit around the house all day long and watch TV until I go blind, but I’d rather be busy,” Lou says. “If there’s something I can do to help, I wanted to do it.”

***

In 2016, Lou was helping pack boxes at the York County Food Bank when he overheard some of the maintenance work that needed to be done.

He jumped on the opportunity to help, fixing the plumbing, installing lights, and driving a forklift.

Lou continues to volunteer with the food bank today because of what it provides people facing situations like he did growing up.

“When I was younger and we needed stuff, there wasn’t something like this around to assist you,” Lou says. “People in bad situations need support from those who have the desire and ability to help, and I’m glad I can do the work.”

Click here to learn more about York County Food Bank

Give Local York’s goal this year is to see 10,000 York Countians make a gift to support a cause they care about on May 1. York County is a great place to live because of neighbors like Lou, and neighbors like you, who choose to give where they live. Give Local at www.givelocalyork.org.

Story sponsored by

Member FDIC

yorktraditionsbank.com
717-747-2670
100 North George Street,  York, PA 17401

Get Neighbors of Our York in your inbox: Every Thursday morning, we’ll email you a full version of the latest “Neighbors of Our York” profile. You subscribing lets us know you like and value what we’re doing.