Chester County Food Bank

WE MOBILIZE OUR COMMUNITY TO ENSURE ACCESS TO REAL, HEALTHY FOOD.

CHESTER COUNTY FOOD BANK IS THE CENTRAL HUNGER-RELIEF ORGANIZATION IN CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA. AT OUR CORE, WE PROVIDE FOR THE ACQUISITION, STORAGE, GROWING, COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD TO FOOD INSECURE RESIDENTS OF CHESTER COUNTY. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022 WE DISTRIBUTED 3,740,400 POUNDS OF FOOD TO 160 FOOD PROVIDING AGENCIES, EQUATING TO MORE THAN 2.93 MILLION MEALS. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH A VARIETY OF MISSION CRITICAL PROGRAMS IN A FEW STRATEGIC AREAS; FOOD DISTRIBUTION, FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES, AGRICULTURE, DIRECT DISTRIBUTION, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.FOOD DISTRIBUTION IS OUR PRIMARY FUNCTION AS AN ORGANIZATION. WE PROCURE FOOD THROUGH A VARIETY OF SOURCES THAT INCLUDE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM DONORS AND GOVERNMENT FUNDED PROGRAMS. THIS ALLOWS US TO

DISTRIBUTE FOOD THAT IS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO PANTRY PARTICIPANTS WHO MEET PRE-DETERMINED INCOME GUIDELINES. AS THE CENTRAL HUNGER-RELIEF ORGANIZATION, WE ARE ABLE TO ENSURE A MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, REGARDLESS OF AN INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY'S SUPPORT OF THEIR LOCAL FOOD PROVIDING AGENCY.FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES IS AN AREA OF OUR WORK THAT GOES BEYOND SIMPLY PROVIDING EMERGENCY SUPPLIES OF FOOD. THROUGH OUR FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES, WE COLLABORATE WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF HUNGER THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE EATFRESH, BEST CHOICES, RAISED BED GARDENS AND SEED TO SUPPER. ADDITIONALLY, WE SERVE COMMUNITIES WITH LOW-FOOD ACCESS THROUGH OUR FRESH2YOU MOBILE MARKET; A ROVING FARMERS' MARKET FOCUSED ON FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE.

TASTEIT! FOOD DEMONSTRATIONS HIGHLIGHT SEASONAL PRODUCE AT THE MARKET AND TEACH CUSTOMERS NEW KITCHEN SKILLS. AT FRESH2YOU, CUSTOMERS ARE WELCOMED TO USE A VARIETY OF PAYMENT METHODS, INCLUDING SNAP BENEFITS AND FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM VOUCHERS OFFERED TO WIC PARTICIPANTS AND QUALIFYING SENIORS. ALL PURCHASES MADE WITH NUTRITION PROGRAMS ARE MATCHED WITH CCFB FUNDED VEGGIEBUCKS TO STRETCH SHOPPERS' DOLLARS EVEN FURTHER. OUR AGRICULTURE PROGRAM IS AN HOMAGE TO CHESTER COUNTY'S DEEP AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE. WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE ABLE TO GROW THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF PRODUCE FOR OUR PROGRAMS AT HISTORIC SPRINGTON MANOR FARM. IN ADDITION TO(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS IN THE PLANTING, GROWING AND HARVESTING OF PRODUCE AT SPRINGTON MANOR, WE RAISE SEEDLINGS TO DISTRIBUTE AMONGST OUR RAISED BED GARDEN PARTICIPANTS. WE ALSO MAINTAIN AN AWARD-WINNING RAISED BED DEMO GARDEN ON LOCATION AND HOUSE A LARGE HIGH TUNNEL TO EXTEND OUR GROWING SEASON. THE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM IS RUN BY TWO ON-STAFF FARMERS WHO OVERSEE OPERATIONS AT SPRINGTON MANOR AND TWO OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE COUNTY.DIRECT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS FILL GAPS OF NEED FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN IN PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS, OUR BACKPACK PROGRAM PROVIDES A SUPPLY OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD ON FRIDAY AFTERNOONS TO SEND CHILDREN HOME WITH OVER THE WEEKEND. DURING SUMMER MONTHS THE SUMMER STUDENT FOOD BOX PROGRAM IS A WAY FOR US TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS, EASY-TO-PREPARE, NON-PERISHABLE FOOD TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE SENIOR BOX PROGRAM IS CCFB'S RENDITION OF THE FEDERAL COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM (CSFP). NOW SERVING MORE THAN 3000 SENIORS, CCFB CAN TAILOR BOXES TO MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND LEVERAGE IT AS A POINT OF CONTACT WITH OUR SENIOR COMMUNITY. FROM TIME TO TIME, FOOD INSECURE INDIVIDUALS PRESENT THEMSELVES TO THE FOOD BANK AND WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN EMERGENCY 3-DAY SUPPLY OF FOOD UNTIL THEY CAN CONNECT TO A REGULAR DISTRIBUTION - THIS IS THE FUNCTION OF OUR EMERGENCY FOOD BOX PROGRAM.WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS THE NEWEST INITIATIVE OF CHESTER COUNTY FOOD BANK. RECOGNIZING UN/UNDEREMPLOYMENT AS ONE OF THE ROOT CAUSES OF FOOD INSECURITY, OUR FRESHSTART KITCHEN TEAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS WITH SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT WITH THE KNIFE SKILLS AND LIFE SKILLS TO ENTER A NEW CAREER AND ACHIEVE SELF-EFFICACY. THE PROGRAM PREPARES PARTICIPANTS THROUGH A 12-WEEK CULINARY ARTS TRAINING PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES LIFE SKILLS AND JOB READINESS, INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT AND JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE.