If you want to donate food or your time to society, here are 10 top food banks in Pennsylvania you can support!
1. Somerton Interfaith Foodbank
Opened in 1997 by the St. Andrews in the Field Episcopal Church in Northeast Philadelphia, Somerton Interfaith Foodbank provides groceries to up to 600 families each month. Their mission is to help struggling families in northeast Philadelphia bridge the gap between the end of their government and church assistance in one month to the beginning of the next month’s assistance.
They are always looking for volunteers both to work the food bank and collect food donations from local businesses; you can apply here. If you would like to donate food or money directly to the service, then you should contact them via this page, or via the information listed at the top of their website.
2. Narberth Community Food Bank
Located in the Narberth borough of Philadelphia, Narberth Community Food Bank started in 2009 as informal food drives originated by Gigi Tevlin-Moffat. Her aim was to help those struggling with the effects of the global recession focus on making ends meet and not on where their next meal would come from. They became a brick-and-mortar food bank in 2010 when demand overwhelmed the supply of the food drives. Now, the food bank opens every Tuesday from 10-2 to allow local Narberth and Lower Merion families to collect what they need to survive that week or month.
You can donate money directly to the food bank via this page, or you can find out how to donate necessary goods and foods on this page. You can also apply to volunteer at the food bank at this page. Contact them to find out more information about this great cause.
3. Unity Food Pantry
Near the Strip District in Pittsburgh, you’ll find the Unity Food Pantry, run out of the Unity Presbyterian Church since the 1980s. The food pantry provides up to 75 individuals and families a month with food bags including non-perishable food items, fresh fruit and vegetables, breads, dairy, and even desserts. The food pantry also provides diapers and baby food to families with babies.
As the food pantry runs entirely on the charity of the community and church members, they are always looking for donations. You can find out how to donate money, food, or your time at this page. You can also contact the pantry coordinator directly via the information provided on the donation page.
4. JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry
Originally named the Kosher Food Pantry, the JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry has been providing emergency groceries to local needy families in the southeast Pittsburgh area five days a week since 1998. Besides providing healthy, fresh food bags, JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry are also one of the only pantries to provide kosher foods to those families in the area living kosher.
You can donate money directly to the cause or volunteer your time to help pack and distribute food bags by following the guidelines and information at this page. If you want to know who they help and how, contact them using the information on this page.
5. Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank
In 1978, a group of Lutheran ministers came together to create the Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank to help serve those local families in need of supplement food services. As the only food bank in the Allentown area open 5 days a week, the Food Bank serves 25,000+ individuals each year, providing short-term food bags that include dry goods, meat, dairy, and even eggs.
As the cost of running the Food often surpasses $200,000 a year, the Food Bank depends entirely on donations from the local community of money, food, and time, so if you can spare any of these, please consider giving. You can also contact them directly to see if there is any other way to help or how to apply for help from the Food Bank.
6. Wilson Area Food Pantry
West of Reading is the Wilson Area Food Pantry, opened in 2008 and located within the West Lawn UMC Community Center in Sinking Spring, PA. Every third Friday, eligible local families are invited in to collect food from distribution tables, just as if shopping at a supermarket. This allows families to keep a sense of dignity and choice about their food choices while also not worrying about where those food choices will come from.
The food pantry is always taking in food donations, particularly canned foods, dried pasta and rice, and items like peanut butter, jelly, and tea. You can drop off item donations at any of the affiliated churches located on their homepage. If you want to donate money to the pantry or volunteer your time, contact the coordinators directly via the information at this page.
7. Honey Brook Food Pantry
South of Reading, in the small town of Honey Brook, is the highly rated Honey Brook Food Pantry. Initially opened in 2014 as a mobile food pantry in association with two larger, county-wide associations, Honey Brook Food Pantry has become its own brick-and-mortar charity, providing the struggling families of Honey Brook and surrounding towns with access to healthy food for the entire family twice a month.
If you’d like to donate money or food to the Honey Brook Food Pantry, you can find out how at this page. If you’d like to volunteer your time to their cause, follow the guidelines on this page. You can always contact them via the information at the bottom of each webpage if you have any other questions.
8. Catherine McAuley Center
Founded in 1979 in Scranton as a temporary shelter for homeless women and children, the Catherine McAuley Center has grown into an essential resource for support to individuals and families living in Scranton and the surrounding areas. Their food pantry provides food to eligible individuals and families struggling to make it to the end of each month. Collections are by appointment only, so interested families must contact the Center via the information found on this page to arrange a collection.
The Catherine McAuley Center are always looking for volunteers and welcome any type of donation—food, goods, or money. You can also contact them directly to find out other ways to help or get help.
9. Lancaster County Food Hub
Founded in 1947 by the Lancaster Council of Churches, the Lancaster County Food Hub provides food, clothing, and general social assistance to those eligible struggling families and individuals in the Lancaster and surrounding areas. The Food Hub functions more like a supermarket than a distribution center, allowing those in need to come in once a month and select the foods they want or need rather than be given a prepared food bag.
Over half of all food they provide at the Food Hub has been donated by the local community, so they rely on your food donations. You can find out how to donate by scrolling to the bottom of this page. You can also donate directly to the Food Hub via PayPal at this link. Contact them to see how else you can help!
10. Crispus Attucks Community Center
Opened in Lancaster in 1929 as the Colored Recreation Center, Crispus Attucks Community Center has long worked to help the residents of Lancaster overcome hardship and financial struggles. They run a twice-monthly afternoon food bank that provides bags of healthy food to local residents in need. They also run a café and food truck that help to fund the food bank and provide free hot food to eligible struggling families.
You can donate money directly to the Crispus Attucks Community Center via the Community Action Partnership donation page found here. To find out how to donate your time or goods to the food bank, contact the Community Action Partnership here and mention the Crispus Attucks Community Center food pantry.
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