Upper Makefield Market Recognized For Giving Back To The Community

UPPER MAKEFIELD, PA — Colonial Farms Gourmet Food and Market has been recognized for its work behind the scenes to help the needy.

Hobart, a national food equipment manufacturer and service provider, has selected the Washington Crossing market as a winner in its 125th anniversary equipment giveaway in the independent food retail store category.

“We’re very excited to be recognized like this,” said Nicholas Angelakis, owner of Colonial Farms. “We’re very honored and very pleased especially because it recognizes the work we do and the support we give to the community.”

In announcing the award, Hobart said was especially impressed by the market’s efforts to help the hungry during the pandemic.

Angelakis and his family-owned market have always given back to the local community, including schools, charities, local soup kitchens and shelters. But at Thanksgiving 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Angelakis realized that the need was a lot more urgent.

That Thanksgiving the market ended up with a lot of leftover meals. They had also produced meals to take to a local soup kitchen. But when he attempted to deliver the food to a local soup kitchen his donation was denied

From that experience, he learned that people weren't going to the shelters because of COVID and they weren't getting fed.

"I thought this was sad. It’s cold and it’s the holiday season. And people were either afraid to give, afraid to receive or visit these places. We had to find another way to get the food to the people.”

So he adjusted and started preparing prepackaged, individual meals.

Through the Team Thompson Family Foundation, every weekend from December 2020 to February 2021 Colonial Farms produced individual meals for the needy in North Philadelphia. In addition, they handed out between 200 and 300 meals every weekend on the street corners of Chester city through the cooperation of the mayor.

“I had a great network. All the teenagers who worked here came in for free and volunteered. I had customers who would pick them (dinners) up and drive them to street corners in Chester,” said Angelakis.

That winter and into the new year, staff and volunteers packaged meals for food pantries, shelters, rescue missions and schools attended by foster children.

In total, from Thanksgiving 2020 to the end of February 2021, Colonial Farms provided approximately 2,300 meals to local organizations, including the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Levittown Food Pantry and the Trenton Rescue Mission.

“All this because it was so sad that these people weren’t eating,” said Angelakis. “What better way to serve then to take it to them?”

Also in February 2021, Angelakis coordinated the Colonial Farms Souper Bowl. With the help of community co-sponsors, they provided soup to 1400 people in need at shelters and pantries.

“We really amped up our efforts during the pandemic when we realized we really needed to do it,” said Angelakis.

“Winning the Hobart equipment package is going to help the market do so much more for the community,” said Angelakis. “We can make more cakes, pies and meals for the charities we support: soup kitchens, homeless shelters and more in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. It will introduce efficiencies that we don’t have with our current equipment.”

The Hobart equipment prize package includes a choice of dish washing and food prep equipment, with the addition of weighing equipment for the market.

Angelakis has selected the pot washing and cooking equipment, which he said will improve efficiency in the production of the individuals meals.

“For example, in the bakery, I won't have to sit there and hand wash pots and pans anymore. Getting an automatic hot washing machine is huge,” he said. “And the oven will help me produce a lot more individual pastries.”

Meanwhile the market is continuing to help - quietly - behind the scenes.

“Just recently the Eastern Service Workers Association came by and picked up food for 200 to 250 people. They are my distribution arm for the needy in Trenton,” he said.

“We’re very proud of what we have done,” said Angelakis. “We don’t talk about it to boast. When I post it on our Facebook page, I don’t do it to brag. I do it to encourage others to do the same and give also. People don’t realize how many people out there are really, really hungry.”