Delaware County Kicks Off 14th Thanksgiving Annual Food Drive

After the Delaware County Commissioners meeting Wednesday, the county announced the beginning of it's 14th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive and said it's hoping to break last year's non perishable food collection weight by 10,000 lbs.

"Last year we collected over 33,000 lbs of food," Councilman David White said in video on the county's Facebook page. "This year, we want to collect 43,000 lbs of food. We can't do it without your help."

White said food donations can be dropped off now through Nov. 18 at various county locations:

• Government Center lobby;
• outside the Sheriff’s office in the Courthouse;
• Fronefield Building, which houses court services;
• Fair Acres in the main lobby (building 8);
• the Detention and 911 centers;
• the County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) and Children and Youth Services (CYS) offices;
• the Human Services offices in Upper Darby;
• DCIU locations – Morton, Marple, Folcroft, Aston, Pennington School, and TCA;
• Numerous DelCo Libraries.

White said with more drop off locations, he hopes the public donates more food than ever before.

Items in highest demand are canned meats such as tuna, chicken, chicken and dumplings, corned beef hash; boxed or canned side dishes such as rice or potatoes; unsweetened cereal; canned vegetables such as tomatoes, beans, or corn; spices; fruit; and soups, especially main dish soups with meat.

"We need your help," White said. "Get that food and let's get it delivered to those who need it most."

White said hunger affects more than just lower income families.

"It’s senior citizens who choose between paying for food and paying for medicine," White said. "It’s families with children who are eating less, or eating less nutritious food. Those of us who are able should extend a helping hand to those who are less fortunate."

To bring some levity to the harsh situation needy families may find themselves in, Food Drive Coordinator Gayle Oddi and Julie Brown of Magellan have made a wager that whoever collects the lesser amount of food will deliver their collections while donning a turkey costume.

The county council is partnering with the county departments of human services and intercommunity health, as well as Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania to feed needy families through the drive.

Donations will be delivered to the food bank at East Side in Chester and First United Methodist in Media on Oct. 28 and Nov. 17, respectively.

Visit the county's Facebook page to watch the announcement video.

Photo courtesy of Delaware County

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