Immaculata University staffers volunteer at food bank

Chester County Food Bank works to provide healthy food for those in need

UWCHLAN » While Immaculata University students are away for the summer, university staffers took over and pitched in to volunteer at the Chester County Food Bank.

Although Chester County is one of the wealthiest counties in the state, about a dozen Immaculata staffers gave their time to be a part of the food bank’s mission to ensure access to real, healthy food to the nearly 80,000 people who struggle with food insecurity.

Food Bank Executive Director Larry Welsch said the nonprofit organization couldn’t do the job without the work of volunteers.

On Tuesday, the group was preparing fresh vegetables to send out to partner agencies.

Vicki Sharpless, Immaculata admissions counselor, talked about volunteering.

“I live in Chester County and I’m fortunate enough to not need these services,” Sharpless said. “This is a good thing to do and it makes you feel good when doing something that helps someone else.

“It’s great that Immaculata lets us take the time off from work to give back.”

Erin Kirschmann is a psychology professor at the university and said that the volunteer work is part of the IHM Sister’s mission.

The food bank is the central hunger relief organization in Chester County that

serves more than 120 organizations while distributing more than 3 million pounds of food.

Jessica Morrell, director of campus ministry, volunteered on Tuesday.

“The food bank empowers the people by giving them fresh, quality ingredients,” she said. “Everyone deserves a high quality of life — they only give the best.”

The Chester County Food Bank, at Pennsylvania Drive in Exton, employees 31 fulltime staff, while operating from a 36,000 square foot

site. Thirty thousand square feet are dedicated to warehousing with 4,000 square feet set aside for freezer and refrigerator space. A commercial kitchen occupies 2,500 square feet. Less than 10 percent of the operating budget comes from government sources, with donations paying most of the costs.

Eighteen thousand students in the county are part of the subsidized lunch program, and the organization offers a summer feeding program.

Staffers are excited to open up a workforce development program this fall that will teach culinary skills.

Almost 50 percent of the

food distributed is fresh and nutritious.

Claudia Rose-Muir is procurement manager for the food bank. She talked about the contribution by Immaculata students and staffers.

“It’s particularly inspiring and nice to know that there’s going to be a next generation that cares,” she said. “They always show up no matter what.

“Whatever I ask them to do it’s, ‘Sure, whatever your need me to do.’

“There is no pushback and they do what needs to be done.”

To volunteer, support or learn more about the food bank, and to watch an informative 10-minute video, go to www.ChesterCountyFoodBank.org.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Immaculata University staffers volunteer time at the Chester County Food Bank Pictured are, front row: Vicki Sharpless, Megan Murphy, Leara Angello-Hall, Erin Kirschmann, Kimmy Tafuro, Mariesa Capelli, and Sharon Barnes; back row: Jayson Hyman, Bambi Auer, and Trish Dudkiew.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Immaculata University faculty member Erin Kirschmann and employee Trish Dudkiewicz volunteer time at the Chester County Food Bank.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Immaculata University employee Megan Murphy prepares broccoli for the Chester County Food Bank.