The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
King of Prussia food drive is underway
Donations will benefit the Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard
UPPER MERION » The King of Prussia District is in the middle of its 11th annual Holiday Food Drive — an effort the organization says is its biggest to date.
The drive, which kicked off Nov. 1, continues through the end of this month and benefits the Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard.
Founded in 2018, the Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard is a food pantry open to anyone living within the Upper Merion Area School District that is hungry or food insufficient.
“Over the past two years, UMACC has experienced a tremendous demand, as have all food pantries across the country. We are proud of the KOP business community for stepping up to help meet this demand,” Rachel Ammon, director of marketing and communications for the King of Prussia District said in an emailed response to questions. She added that the District shifted the focus of its food drive in 2018 to the Community Cupboard, “as it is important for us to support this community directly.”
The effort is important, according to the District, because of the continued effects from the global
COVID-19 pandemic and the local impact in the wake of Hurricane Ida, which struck the area on Sept. 1.
Alice Budno Hope, vice president of the Community Cupboard and vice president of the Upper Merion Area School Board, said the Community Cupboard saw the number of families it serves quadruple at the start of the pandemic.
“It has come down a bit, but there were so many families out of work that we were really stretched and trying to help as many families as possible,” she said, adding the agency doesn’t ask questions of its clients. “If someone has the courage to come to us at the pantry, we know they need help with food.”