Delco Food Drive Collects 12,053 Pounds of Food

The surpassed its goal this year during the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive by collecting 12,053 pounds of food for those in need.

The food was delivered Friday, Nov. 18, to the food bank at Mount Zion CME Church Food Center in Darby Township.

and the County Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health, joined forces with Magellan Behavioral Health of PA to collect non-perishable food items to distribute to families in need this Thanksgiving season.

The Mount Zion food bank is one of 12 food banks operated by the Delco Interfaith Food Assistance Network (DIFAN) of Family and Community Service of Delaware County.

Providers involved with food assistance programs report a dire need for donations during the current economic downturn.

"An increased cost of living, coupled with job loss and other difficulties, means families are struggling to make ends meet," said Marilyn Maxwell, Mt. Zion food bank coordinator.

"The approaching holiday season will stress household budgets even more. Struggling families cannot afford the holiday traditions that so many take for granted, like a holiday meal."

This year’s drive was held Oct. 4 through Nov. 18 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 the Office of Behavioral Health.

Although the is completed, food donations are needed all year. People can continue to make food donations to any DIFAN food bank.