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RISP GREEN BEANS, JUICY TURKEY IN GRAVY, fluffy mashed potatoes and, of course, Grandma’s special stuffing. Thanksgiving is around the corner, and many Chester County residents’ mouths are already watering, thinking of the bounty to come. Yet that reality is not shared by all our neighbors. According to the national anti-hunger organization Feeding America, in 2018 more than 43,000 individuals in Chester County experienced food insecurity. In the following years, the pandemic’s economic impact has left thousands more Chester County residents struggling to put enough food on the table. Fortunately, our area has service organizations working to end food insecurity throughout our county, not just at Thanksgiving but all year long. For our Local Hero, we highlight the work of the West Chester Food Cupboard and their mission to provide fresh food and personal care supplies to those in need.
Local Heroes:
West Chester Food Cupboard BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD GO HUNGRY! Madison Meinel
Volunteers bagging produce
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County Lines | November 2021 | CountyLinesMagazine.com
HOW THEY STARTED In 2009 a food cupboard previously run by Chester County Cares made the difficult decision to close their doors. Dismayed volunteers knew the resources that food cupboard provided were too valuable to lose, especially for families that depended on their support throughout the year. The volunteers banded together to open and run a new food cupboard themselves. And so the West Chester Food Cupboard was born. Each year the number of volunteers increased, along with donations, as the community generously contributed to provide for the needs of low-income residents struggling to feed their families. The Food Cupboard’s considerable growth (now with over 200 volunteers), led to their big move in 2017 to an upgraded location on South Bolmar Street with twice the space. This large facility allows clients to stroll the aisles and shop as they’d do in a grocery store. Despite changes over time, the Food Cupboard has stayed true to their roots—100% volunteer-run and no paid staff. The mission of providing fresh and nonperishable food to those in need continues, along with their new open-door policy to include all PA residents in need. WHAT THEY DO During client hours you’ll find hardworking volunteers throughout the Food Cupboard, greeting clients, collecting orders, packing carts and distributing food. Each volunteer sports a light blue t-shirt with the message “because no one should go hungry!” accented with a huge smile visible even when wearing a mask. “We see it as our responsibility to help [our clients] and serve them with a smile, dignity and respect,” says Rob Necarsulmer, the organization’s vice president. Pre-pandemic, Food Cupboard clients could come in and browse the aisles. But with current safety precautions, the group pivoted to drive-up services where volunteers take clients’ orders, collect items and bring the groceries to the client’s car. The Food Cupboard puts an emphasis on making healthy options available—not just canned goods—with a wide variety of fresh produce
