Phoenixville Area Community Services Awarded $294K Grant

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Phoenixville Area Community Services was awarded a $294,000 grant to purchase upgrades necessary to become a food distribution hub.

“This is fantastic,” Mary Fuller, executive director of PACS, said today of the grant provided by the Chester County commissioners.
“We recover food from area food stores and we need more refrigeration. There are a lot of hungry people.”
The grant will be used to purchase a refrigerator and generator required to store food at the recently expanded food pantry at 101 Buchanan St.
PACS leads the Phoenixville Food Insecurity Team, a collection of local organizations and food pantries working together to solve food insecurity in Phoenixville and surrounding areas.
“We have seen such an increase in numbers, not only since the pandemic, but in the last six months, our numbers have increased by about 50 percent. “ Fuller said.
“We are excited and eager to get the work started soon, and these funds from the county are critical to our operation.”

The nonprofit provides several food programs in partnership with companies including Trader Joe’s, Wawa, Wegman’s and Giant Food Stores in Phoenixville.
The county received the grant from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act.
In December, the nonprofit received $300,000 from the Chester County Food Bank’s CARES award pf $621,005.
Happy to Help
Commissioner Chairwoman Marian Moskowitz said helping PACS reach more people in need is a worthy use of CARES dollars.
"PACS has been serving this community for almost 50 years, helping people overcome difficult times in their lives,” Moskowitz said during a check presentation Feb. 1 at PACS headquarters.
Commissioner Josh Maxwell praised the nonprofit for looking after families in Phoenixville and surrounding areas.
“Even in a county as bountiful as ours, we have families who can’t afford an adequate amount of food.”
Michelle Kichline, county commissioner, added: “It warms my heart to see the spirit and concern that so many of our fellow residents have for those facing hardship. I am glad we, your county government, were able to make this contribution.”
For more information, contact www.pacsphx.org