Local Food Banks Need Donations

Federal funding for food stamps was reduced on Nov. 1 and local food banks are feeling the effects, weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday.

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was cut by $5 billion when Congress did not renew the stimulus funding.

Delaware County residents will lose a combined $7.19 million in food stamps, over the next year, which is the third highest in the state behind Philadelphia and Allegheny County, according to the Delaware County Daily Times.

In Media, Nativity BVM’s Food Pantry, which was created in 1970, provides non-perishable food items to parish families in need, each month. The program also provides turkeys and hams on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

Melissa Randall, who helps run Nativity BVM’s Food Pantry, said they are currently assisting 15 families but she expects the number to increase. 

"I'm sure we will see an up-tick," Randall said. "The number will go up. I'd be surprised if it didn't."

She said food supplies at the pantry are currently low and donations of food, toiletries and money would be greatly appreciated. 

"You don't realize what a tube of toothpaste costs," Randall said. 

Any monetary donation made to Nativity BVM’s Food Pantry is used to buy gift cards at Acme, she said, and turkeys have already been donated for Thanksgiving. 

In Broomall, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church Food Center, part of Delco Interfaith Food Assistance Network (DIFAN), provides 15 meals per month for an average size family.

"We are serving two to four new clients per week as well as seeing the return of clients we hadn't seen in several months," St. Mark's Food Center Director Maria Kollar said in an email message.

She said supplies at St. Mark's are in good shape due to recent community food drives and donations from Boy and Girl Scout Troops, Marple Newtown High School cheerleaders, and FFA (Feeding Fellow Americans) at Marple Newtown High School.

The community is often surprised to learn that there is poverty in the relatively affluent area of Marple Newtown, Kollar said.

"In fact, 14 to 16 percent of the children in the Marple Newtown School District are living below the poverty line," she said. "I am still stunned by the response I get from people in my own neighborhood in Newtown Square when I tell them I run a food bank. Lifelong residents have replied with, 'What food bank? Why is there a food bank?'"

While food donations are most important, monetary donations given to St. Mark's are used to purchase items that can not be purchased with food stamps, like toiletries.

Panera Bread in Newtown Square and Broomall also donate all leftovers, seven days a week, to area food pantries in a year-round program and is enormously helpful, Kollar said.

The First United Methodist Church Food Bank in Media, also part of DIFAN, is currently serving 55-65 families were week, according to its website. 

The food bank is open to families in need every Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. and the second and fourth Saturday of the month from 10 to 11 a.m.

How To Donate

• Canned goods
• Healthy cereals
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Toiletries

• Frozen turkeys 
• Breakfast cereals
• White or brown rice
• Soups
• Canned chicken and tuna
• Canned vegetables
• Pasta
• Coffee
• Pancake mix (just add water variety) and syrup
• Applesauce and fruit cups
• Condiments
  
• Bar soap
• Toilet paper
• Manufacturer’s coupons for diapers, baby food, and infant formula, laundry products and cleaning supplies
• Checks may be made payable to St. Mark's Food Center and mailed to 2220 S. Sproul Road, Broomall, PA 19008.