​Shoppers Open Their Hearts For Less Fortunate At Newtown Food Drive

NEWTOWN, PA — Thanks to the generosity of shoppers at McCaffrey’s Market in Newtown, the shelves at the Wrightstown Food Cupboard are again brimming with food.

Stationed outside the market on Saturday, members of the Newtown Rotary Club and former members of the Newtown Exchange Club handed out fliers asking shoppers to donate food for the area’s less fortunate.

And once again, shoppers responded in a big way filling more than 18 shopping carts with donations, from boxes of Cheerios to cans of soups and vegetables.

“People who shop here are phenomenal. They give and they give,” said Rotarian Paul Salvatore.

Many also reached into their pockets and wallets to donate hundreds of dollars in cash to the pantry. Those donations will be used to match a challenge grant made by the Gene and Marlene Epstein Foundation.

“I can’t say enough about Gene and the foundation. He’s constantly giving back to the community,” said Salvatore.

The foundation has offered to match up to $1,000 for money donated between now and Wednesday, Nov. 2. Donations may be made through Venmo @newtownrotary with challenge in the memo line.

Checks can also be mailed to Newtown Rotary Club, P.O. Box 123, Penns Park, 18943. Include challenge in the memo line.

Food drive organizer Shari Donahue, the co-owner of the Zebra-Striped Whale, has been organizing the drive for the past few years for the club.

“It’s very heartwarming to see the generosity of people. It’s absolutely amazing,” she said. “I noticed that people will buy a little something for themselves and then give us a whole cart. It’s so generous. I mean look at all this - cereal, soup, diapers. And we’ve had a ton of volunteers to help us this year, including members of the Council Rock Interact Club and former Newtown Exchange Club members.”

The donations collected at McCaffrey’s will be distributed to the needy by the Wrightstown Food Cupboard, which is a joint mission of Anchor Presbyterian, Penns Park United Methodist, St. Mark’s Orthodox Church and Wrightstown Friends Meeting.

“This will keep us busy for a while,” said Bill Miles who was on hand to accept the donations at Penns Park United Methodist Church. “People are so generous.

For nearly three decades, the food cupboard has operated out of the Penns Park United Methodist Church at 2394 Second Street Pike in Wrightstown offering a helping hand to needy area individuals and families.

The food cupboard operates year round, distributing food baskets at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and the Fourth of July. It is always in need of pasta sauce (jars), coffee, tea, juice, peanut
butter and jelly in addition to personal products, including shampoo, toothpaste, pampers and paper towels.

The Wrightstown Food Cupboard, which recently secured its nonprofit status, is open year-round by appointment. For food needs and to schedule an appointment, call Penns Park United Methodist at 215-598-7601

The Newtown Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. at The Temperance House in Newtown. It’s mission is “Service Above Self.