Coronavirus Increases Hunger: Find A Food Bank In Delaware County

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — When you look around Delaware County, it's easy to see the effects the coronavirus has had on our way of life. What's less visible is the number of people who are now worrying about having enough to eat.

Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, says coronavirus-related economic crises could push the number of food insecure Americans to 54 million by year's end. That's 17 million more Americans than who were food insecure before the pandemic. For some, it's a matter of running short on grocery money before the week is out and eating a lot of boxed pasta and rice dishes.

For others, food insecurity means real hunger.

In Delaware County, about 52,970, or 9.4 percent, were considered food insecure before the pandemic, according to Feeding America's "Map the Meal Gap" interactive study.

Feeding America, whose 200 member food banks include Philabundance on S. Galloway Street in the city, as well as the Chester County Food Bank in Exton, reports both higher demand for services and more need for volunteer and donor support.

Some of the food pantries and other services available in Delaware County are:

• Fresh For All Christ Lutheran — 7240 Walnut St., Upper Darby
• Christ Lutheran Church — 7240 Walnut St., Upper Darby
• Multicultural Family Services — 7016 Terminal Square, Ste 3a, Upper Darby
• Prayer Chapel Cogic — 7099 Locust St., Upper Darby
• Society Of Saint Vincent De Paul — 1101 Main St., Darby
• Collingdale Church Of The Nazarene — 212 Macdade Boulevard, Collingdale
• Salvation Army Darby — 22 North 9th St., Darby
• Fresh For All Mount Zion Cme Church — 701 Felton Ave., Sharon Hill
• Mount Zion Cme Church — 701 Felton Ave, Sharon Hill
• Loaves And Fishes — 703 Lincoln Ave., Prospect Park
• Lifewerks/Fc — 25 Cedar Road, Wallingford
• Neighbor To Neighbor Community Development — 814 Clifton Ave,M Sharon Hill Delaware County Housing Authority — 1855 Constitution Ave., Woodlyn
• Faith Community Church — 3515 Edgmont Ave., Brookhaven
• Salvation Army Chester Corps — 151 West 15th St., Chester
• Episcopal Place Park Row — 421 W. 24th St., Upland
• True Vine Fgb — 701 Morton Ave., Chester
• Chester Eastside Inc. — 301 E. 9th St., Chester
• Upland Baptist Church — 325 Main St., Upland
• Catholic Social Services Delaware County — 130 East 7th St., Chester
• Fresh For All-chester High School — 232 W. 9th St., Chester
• Cityteam Ministries — 634 Sproul St., Chester
• Saint Paul Cme Church — 1009 West 3rd St., Chester
• Saint Katharine Drexel — 408 W. 2nd St., Chester
• Saint Daniel’s United Methodist Church — 315 Edwards St., Chester
• Better Living Center — 501 Yarnall St., Chester

RELATED: Millions Made Hungry During Pandemic Could Include Your Neighbor

Food insecurity is often thought of as a "poor people's problem," but not all people living in poverty are food insecure, and not all food-insecure people live in poverty. Food insecurity is a complex issue sandwiched in with other systemic challenges, including poverty, low wages, affordable housing shortages, chronic and acute health problems, high medical costs and social isolation.

"Our members are reporting that many of the people they’re serving have never sought food assistance before," Kathryn Strickland, Feeding America’s chief network officer, told Patch. "Some people are reporting that people who formerly donated to food banks are now seeking assistance."

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.