Lower Merion National Night Out Drive Nets 2K Pounds Of Food

ARDMORE, PA — Unfortunately, the annual National Night Out festival in Lower Merion Township was canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials announced the event would be postponed back in July, then in late August said it was outright canceled.

But out of the sad news came tangible good that will help those in need.

On Tuesday, Lower Merion Community Watch and Lower Merion Police held a food drive to support the food pantries at Eldernet of Lower Merion and Narberth.

And the results were "remarkable."

"It was shocking to me," Matt Peskin, Executive Director National Association of Town Watch/National Night Out, told Patch.

Peskin said about 2,000 pounds of food was donated to support the pantries.

According to officials, the food pantries had been essentially wiped out in March when the coronavirus hit the region.

"At this moment they're trying to get it all into their facility," Peskin said.

He said one police van and one police SUV were filled with donated foods.

Roughly 75 vehicles came to the drive-thru food donation event.

While remaining in their vehicles, community members chatted with Lower Merion police officers, firefighters, and Narberth Ambulance EMS personnel.

The reason Peskin was surprised at the response because with the typical National Night Out event, it's a festival where community members have fun.

But with the drive-thru food donation event, community members had pull items from their pantries, drive to the Lower Merion Police Department and stay in their vehicles, then head on their way.

"Part of it is people have been inside or kept away from police due to everything going on," Peskin said. "This was a chance to say thank you and here is our donation."