HUNGRY FOR NEW HOME

West Chester Food Cupboard celebrates larger facility

WEST CHESTER » West Chester may be one of the best places to live in the United States, but despite its picturesque Main Street and beautiful neighborhoods, it is not immune to one of society’s most troubling issues – hunger.

The West Chester Food Cupboard, which fights each day to combat the issue of hunger in our community, celebrated its grand reopening on Oct. 1 at their new location on South Bolmar Street. The new, larger facility will allow them to better serve the community, so no one goes hungry in West Chester.

“Research shows that more than one in 10 adults and children suffer each day with food insecurity in our region – meaning that at times, these people lack access to enough food for the active, healthy life we are all entitled to,” said Fiona Allison, board member at the WCFC. “More than 1,200 local households are registered to receive food from our organization, and this past year, we distributed 950,000 pounds of food. With our new location, we aim to increase our efforts, through the generous support of our community and volunteers.”

Pennsylvania state Rep. Carolyn Comitta, D-156, a longtime supporter of the West Chester Food Cupboard, said, “We are lucky to have such a wonderful resource in the West Chester Food Cupboard, which is 100 percent focused on serving the West Chester community, where, sadly, we do have people that suffer each day,

worrying about how they will feed their families. I urge everyone in our community who is able, to think about how they can help to combat this critical issue, and to consider supporting the West Chester Food Cupboard in their mission to fight hunger in our community.”

“The West Chester Food Cupboard is an important resource for the community, and I am pleased to celebrate its reopening,” said U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6,

of West Goshen. “The Food Cupboard is one of several of the food bank supply chains in the region that help provide to those in need. In Congress, I’m focusing my efforts on this issue on making sure the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is reauthorized.”

In July of 2017, the WCFC moved from a 2,600-square-foot space it inhabited on Gay Street for eight years, to a new facility at 431 S. Bolmar Street. This move has allowed the WCFC to double its footprint. The new facility is set up like a grocery store, and serves between 500 and 600 local households

each month. To register with the WCFC, clients must provide names, dates of birth, phone number, and proof of address, for all household members, and meet total household income guidelines. Once registered, clients can come once a month to receive food, free of charge.

The West Chester Food Cupboard is a 100 percent volunteer-run organization. With generous support from the community, the ‘clientchoice’ WCFC is able to offer fresh produce, quality meats, proteins and dairy items, along with standard pantry essentials. Financial donations are preferred, so

The West Chester Food Cupboard is a 100 percent volunteer-run organization.

the WCFC can maintain its inventory. Staple grocery donations are also welcome. The WCFC is also always looking for new volunteers to help them operate. More details can be found at the WCFC’s website: http:// westchester food cup board. org/, as well as a link to make financial donations.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Officials prepare to cut the ribbon for the new location of the West Chester Food Cupboard earlier this week.

SUBMITTED PHOTO The West Chester Food Cupboard’s new location on South Bolmar Street is spacious.