The Elliottsburg entrepreneur deserves praise everywhere he goes

Lindsay Hutchinson, owner of People’s Provisions in Elliottsburg, recently received two prestigious awards that highlight her impact on local and other communities. Hutchinson was named a recipient of the Young Alumna Award from her alma mater, Springfield College in Massachusetts, and earned a spot on the Central Penn Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list, recognizing her as one of the top young professionals in the region.

The Springfield College Young Alumna Award recognizes graduates who have made notable contributions to their professions and communities, while the Central PA Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award recognizes young leaders who are making a significant impact in their industries. Hutchinson’s passion for building community and supporting local farmers has earned her a unique place in the Perry County food scene, and the accolades reflect her success.

“I feel truly honored and grateful for the recognition,” Hutchinson said. “I am truly proud to be part of the Springfield College and Perry County communities, and I know I would not be as successful if I had not spent a lot of time with the people of those communities.” She added that receiving the awards is “almost surreal” given her unconventional path to business ownership.

Hutchinson had no formal business background when she launched the farm-to-table supermarket in May 2022. Instead, she relied on passion and community support. “I built this business with grit, hard work and a lot of people supporting me, and I’m still learning so much as a business owner.”

People’s Provisions, which started as an online platform in 2019, quickly expanded to a physical location in Elliottsburg. The store aims to connect people with fresh, locally produced products and support local farmers. Hutchinson’s innovative ‘pay what you want’ system has become a hallmark of her business, allowing customers to tailor their payment to their financial situation. Those who can afford to pay more are encouraged to do so and help provide free food to those in need.

Despite the recognition, Hutchinson remains grounded and focused. “I feel self-conscious as an entrepreneur,” she admitted. “I don’t have a business degree, but I hope I can inspire other people who want to follow their dreams and make a positive impact to believe in themselves too. If we all do our little bits well, it will add up to a lot of good.”

Hutchinson hopes to use the awards to attract funding for future expansion projects. “With awards and recognitions like this, I hope that larger institutions, organizations and companies will help me finance projects. I don’t have the money right now, but I have the dream and the support of the community.”

For Hutchinson, the ultimate goal is to continue building relationships and delivering fresh, local food, while ensuring farmers are fairly compensated for their labor. She sees the awards as confirmation of her work and as motivation to continue making progress.

“I hope to expand our store to create a community space for more farm-to-table experiences and build a processing facility to grow our value-added production for our province’s farmers. It feels very special to be able to use my connections to make a positive impact, not just for me, but for many people in Perry County.”

For more information about People’s Provisions, readers can visit the website at peoplesprovisions.com or follow on social media facebook.com/peoplesprovisionspa And Instagram peoples.provisions.