› Chester Eastside Food Programs Need Your Help!

› Chester Eastside Food Programs Need Your Help!

W

ith food insecurity rising and decreased funding, longtime Outreach partner, Chester Eastside, needs support for their many food programs. Included in these are the Food Pantry (open 3 days a week), the Open Table meal (serving four days a week), and the Kids First after school program (serving elementary-age kids five days a week). There are many ways you can help! Here are some of the ways we have learned in conversation with staff at CEI.

Food Pantry: The shelves of the Food Pantry always need support. See below for a list of the most needed items, though any food donations are welcome. Food can be brought to church and placed in the bins marked for these. Volunteers from the Hunger Team will deliver these directly to Chester Eastside.

For more information or to follow up with any questions, please contact Rev. Andy Jacob, 610-872-4812 or Rev. Sarah Cooper Searight, 610-543-4712, x.117.

Assistance with Food Pick-up: 1-2 volunteers are needed to help pick up food from local vendors and businesses that are donated for distribution through the Food Pantry program. Chester Eastside is seeking volunteers willing to use their personal vehicles to go to the designated places where food is picked up and deliver these donations back to CEI. Volunteers should be comfortable lifting and hauling potentially large boxes of food and produce, though the amount and size vary depending on each trip. Volunteers will be ready at CEI to help unload. CEI is developing a schedule to help accommodate volunteer schedules.

Assistance in providing daily meals for the Kids First Program (after school): 2-3 volunteers are needed to help provide healthy, cooked meals for the elementary-aged kids who participate in the Kids First Program. Volunteers would purchase, prepare, and serve a simple meal (suggestions supplied by Kids First staff). Meals are served to the students at 3 PM, as they arrive from school. The time required would be about 1 1/2 hours, with time to prep food at home or CEI, serve and clean up (with help from staff).

Chester Eastside Food Donation Needs*

Canned pasta meals (spaghetti O’s, ravioli, etc.)
Canned or dried soup
Canned stews
Canned tuna, chicken
Canned vegetables, beans
Cereal
Cornbread & muffin mixes
Fruit (bags of apples, oranges)
Macaroni & cheese (boxed)
Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat
Pancake mix, syrup
Pasta / noodles (dry)
Pasta sauce (plastic jars preferred)
Peanut butter, jelly
Potatoes (fresh or dried)
Rice (bags or pouches)

*non-perishable foods in household sizes are welcome and appreciated!

  • Canned pasta meals (spaghetti O’s, ravioli, etc.)
  • Canned or dried soup
  • Canned stews
  • Canned tuna, chicken
  • Canned vegetables, beans
  • Cereal
  • Cornbread & muffin mixes
  • Fruit (bags of apples, oranges)
  • Macaroni & cheese (boxed)
  • Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat
  • Pancake mix, syrup
  • Pasta / noodles (dry)
  • Pasta sauce (plastic jars preferred)
  • Peanut butter, jelly
  • Potatoes (fresh or dried)
  • Rice (bags or pouches)
BACK TO SPC WEEKLY NOTES