Not having enough food for your family is an alarming thought. It’s a reality for some residents of the Main Line. Many are unable to provide enough food consistently through the year.
How does this hidden suffering happen to our neighbors? Often the whole story isn’t known but retired grandparents suddenly become custodians of grandchildren due to the parent’s drug abuse or abandonment. Sometimes women and children are left by partners with no means of support.
“The segment of the population experiencing the deepest poverty is single mothers with children under 5,” responded Patrick Druhan, Director Montco Hunger Solutions. Food insecurity is one of the most insidious issues facing children, contributing to toxic stress, illness, anxiety and depression.
Sometimes families endure long illnesses and long-term loss of employment. Or seniors experience unexpected out of pocket medical costs and inconsistent employment.
Food banks are there to offer help. Narberth Community Food Bank provides weekly bags of nutritious fresh foods to households in the community. “Narberth Community Food Bank is ten years strong now! We are thankful to be working with so many other area food support agencies. There were only a few local resources when we started in 2008/09,” said Gigi Tevlin-Moffat, Narberth Community Food Bank.
Wayne Church Food Pantry at the United Methodist Church and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Ardmore Food Pantry provide groceries and personal care items. Jewish Relief Agency, Eldernet, Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard and Mitzvah Food Program reach those in need every week.
Area food banks work with umbrella organizations like Philabundance, Share Montco Hunger Solutions, Chester County Food Bank and The Montco Anti-Hunger Network. And when items are available, area businesses contribute fresh produce, bread, canned goods and pet food: Whole Foods, Giant, Acme, Spot’s in Narberth, Petco.
Local individuals and organizations help stock the shelves too. Some of these include area schools, the Scouts, gyms, book clubs, Har Zion Temple’s annual food drive and Main Line Reform Temple’s social action committee.
“The need to provide food and other services to our neighbors is ongoing. We hope you are moved to help, share your skills, or if you simply want to know more, we encourage you to come by on Tuesdays,” offered Gigi Tevlin-Moffat, Narberth Community Food Bank.
Food supplies are low in March and April but are needed year-round. To donate food or financial support or if you’d like to volunteer alongside your neighbors at a food bank, contact information follows. Please check expiration dates. Expired foods for humans and their pets cannot be distributed.
If you’re a Montgomery Country resident in need of food, contact Montco Hunger Solutions at 610.628.2000 or contact one of the food banks in your county for information.
Gratefully,
Jane
Narberth Community Food Bank (Narberth, Lower Merion)
201 Sabine Avenue, 2nd floor, Narberth
Food donation drop off days/times: Monday – Friday during open building hours; Mondays 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM and Tuesday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM and Narberth Library 80 Windsor Avenue, Narberth
Wish list
Elder Net Food Pantry (Narberth, Lower Merion)
9 South Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr
Food donation days/times: Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Wish list
Mitzvah Food Program – Jewish Federation (Western Montgomery County, Delaware County, Haverford Township, Philadelphia)
345 Montgomery Avenue, Bala Cynwyd
Food donation days/times: Monday and Thursday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Please contact in advance: mi****************@je**********.org or 215.832.0509
Wish list: Non-perishable Kosher food, toiletries and cleaning supplies.
Ardmore Food Pantry (Lower Merion)
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 36 Ardmore Avenue, Ardmore
Food donation drop off days/times: Monday – Thursday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM; call before dropping off 610-649-1486
Items needed
Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard (Montgomery County)
191 Town Center Road, King of Prussia (inside Valley Forge Presbyterian Bldg.) Use 227 Independence Road 19406 as GPS destination.
Food donation days/times: Thursdays 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM; for other days/times Co*****@UM***.org
Wish list
Wayne Food Pantry (Radnor)
United Methodist Church 210 South Wayne Avenue, Wayne (back entrance)
Food donation drop off days/times: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM – Noon
Items needed
Jewish Relief Agency Bala Cynwyd (Main Line, Philadelphia)
225 E. City Ave, Suite 210, Bala Cynwyd, PA
Food donation days/times: Call office at 610.660.0190 for donation information and drop off arrangements, volunteer opportunities.
Wish list: canned tuna, every day essentials/personal care items (toilet paper, laundry detergent, individually wrapped bar soap)
Chester County Food Bank (Chester County and 120 area food pantries) and https://vimeo.com/266761860
650 Pennsylvania Drive, Exton
Food donation drop off days/times: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Items needed
MontCo Anti-Hunger Network (MAHN) is an inclusive alliance of emergency food providers maximizing the acquisition and distribution of nutritious food to those in need. Donations help feed the less fortunate in Montgomery County.
Thank you for bringing this critically important issue to the attention of our community. We are all pretty good about remembering food banks during the holidays, but please keep in mind that hunger NEVER takes a vacation. Our commitment to families in need in our community should never be on vacation either.
Donating money is the best way to ensure that our area hunger relief programs are
View moreThank you for bringing this critically important issue to the attention of our community. We are all pretty good about remembering food banks during the holidays, but please keep in mind that hunger NEVER takes a vacation. Our commitment to families in need in our community should never be on vacation either.
Donating money is the best way to ensure that our area hunger relief programs are able to get the right support to those they are assisting. If you are going to donate food, please, please, please ask the food bank what food they really need. This is NOT the time to clean out your pantry of food you don’t want. And, many food programs are in need of volunteers to help with everything from stocking shelves to delivering food.
We are community of caring people and ending hunger for our neighbors is possible.
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