COFFEE BOOST
The COVID pandemic may be easing, with daily case counts and hospitalizations dropping over the past month, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t still in need.
“We originally thought we’d be busy for six months and then things would get back to normal,” Jay Worrall, president of Helping Harvest food bank, said Tuesday. “That’s not what we’ve seen. People need a lot of help right now.”
Helping Harvest in Spring Township has been working in overdrive the past two years, providing food for those in need in Berks and Schuylkill counties. It hasn’t been easy.
The nonprofit has had to grow, nearly doubling its staff size and adding more trucks and truck drivers. The cold storage facility has been expanded, more social workers have been hired.
Helping Harvest is also facing some of the challenges faced by families, dealing with the recent rise in gas prices and inflated grocery prices spurred by supply chain shortage.
And that comes at a time when demand is once again increasing. Worrall said that after seeing a dip throughout 2021, the new year has brought growing need.
Fortunately, Helping Harvest has some pretty generous partners. And one of them stopped by the Spring Township food bank Tuesday to drop of a very welcome gift.
Representatives of Dunkin’ of Greater Philadelphia, along with some local Dunkin’ franchise owners, presented Helping Harvest with an oversized check representing a $10,000 donation.
“Dunkin’ franchisees are dedicated to the communities they’re in,” Jessica Weissman, senior field marketing manager for Dunkin’, said moments before the check was unveiled.
Weissman explained the money was raised through the Roast Hunger program, where from Thanksgiving through Dec. 10 franchisees donated $1 for every large, hot coffee sold to members of the franchise’s rewards program. The program, which has run for the past 12 years, provides funding for five food banks in the region.
“It’s a lot of coffee, and it added up to a lot of money,” Weissman said.
Worrall said the gift will provide a much-needed boost for Helping Harvest.
“They’re so generous,” he said. “I like Dunkin’, I love doughnuts. I hope everyone does.”
While donations of food are always welcome, Worrall said, cash donations like the one provided by Dunkin’ make an even bigger impact. That’s because the food bank can often get more for its money than the general public because it buys items in bulk.
He gave an example, saying that someone might be able to get two cans of corn for $1. Helping Harvest can get four or five.
“They give you a good price on corn when you buy a whole truckload,” he said with a smile.
Worrall estimated that for each dollar Helping Harvest receives it can provide 10 meals to a family. That mean’s Dunkin’s donation equates to about 100,000 meals.
Of course, there are other reasons why monetary donations are effective, too.
Going back to his corn example, he said the food bank might not have a big need for corn. But it may need lettuce or gas for its trucks.
“We always welcome any donations from the community,” he said. “But sometimes cash donations go further.”
Either way, whether it’s money or food, Worrall said, Helping Harvest still needs supports from the community.
“We really need your help now more than ever,” he said.