Thanksgiving drive nets 18,622 pounds of food

County employees and partners help stock food pantries for the holiday season

Delaware County employees delivered dozens of boxes of non-perishable food items to the Upland Baptist Church, Friday, November 15, as part of a countywide Thanksgiving Food Drive, which amassed 18,622 pounds of food.

County Council, the County Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), and the County Department of Intercommunity Health (ICH) once again joined forces with Magellan Behavioral Health of PA to collect non-perishable food items to distribute to families in need.

County Council and OBH have partnered with Magellan for 11 years to coordinate the food drive.  Each year, more organizations join the drive, like ICH in 2011, helping to set new collection records. In 2012, the Office of Domestic Relations joined the county team, and helped propel the collection to an all-time record 14,242 pounds of food.

This year, the goal to exceed last year’s total was surpassed with 18,622 pounds of food collected, all of which will be distributed to families in-need this Thanksgiving season.

Community partners included the Franklin Mint Credit Union, Sysco, Wawa, Acme Markets, Wilmington Savings Fun Society, and Save-A-Lot.

Providers involved with local food assistance programs continue to report an increasing demand for donations during challenging economic times.

“We are pleased and proud of our employees and community partners who collected an amount well over our previous record for pounds of food for families in-need. The need for food assistance is greater now than ever. This is still a tough economy for many folks, and it is crucial that we continue to reach out to those families,” said Councilman White, Council’s liaison to Human Services. “A lot of families continue to tighten their belts when it comes to food budgets. Those of us who are able need to extend a helping hand to those who are less fortunate.”

This year’s drive was held Oct. 1 through Nov. 15 with participation by employees and residents doing business at the Courthouse and Government Center.

“The biggest message we wanted to get out there is that sometimes during the holidays people are more generous, but we have hungry families all year ‘round,” said Bill Chambers, food drive organizer and deputy mental health program administrator for OBH.

Although the Delaware County Thanksgiving Food Drive is over for this season, food donations can be made at any time to the Delaware County Interfaith Food Assistance Network (DIFAN), administered by Family and Community Service. For information about DIFAN call 610-566-7540 or visit the County website, under Human Services.