by the Food Bank of Delaware and United Way of Delaware began on November 7, more
than 280,000 pounds of food have been collected and more than $235,000 received.
The influx of donated food and monetary donations for utility and shelter assistance could
not have come at a more crucial time.
Human service agencies throughout the state report that demand for basic human needs
such as food, shelter and utilities has increased by 25 to 50 percent. At Union United
Methodist Church’s food pantry in Bear, demand for food assistance has almost doubled.
“Our food closet visitors look just like us,” said Elaine Taylor, the church’s Missions
Chairperson. “We see people that have always been employed…paychecks just don’t go as far as they used to.”
“The increases [in food] have helped tremendously,” said Deaconess Jean Warren, Executive Director of Lutheran Community Services. “We had programs and locations that were in danger of closing prior to the campaign, but they were able to remain open with the help of Delaware Does More.”
Monetary donations to Delaware Does More are helping to ease the burden of the economic recession. Financial assistance from Delaware Does More helped a single mother of four make her rent payment after she missed work when one of her children became seriously ill.
Delaware Does More also helped a man who suffered a disabling injury several months ago that left him unable to work. To make ends, meet he applied for Social Security disability benefits, but because approval is still pending, he fell behind on his mortgage payments. He used his Delaware Does More gift to help pay his mortgage and allow more time for his disability paperwork to be processed.
Agencies recognize the difference that Delaware Does More has made. “Without it, we would be in a very tough situation. We can find food, but we would not be able to afford it,” said Frank Rinaldi, Director of Ray of Hope in Port Deposit, Md. “We would find a way to feed our families, but this has made a really great difference.”
Delaware Does More
Delaware Does More is a statewide collaboration initiated by the Food Bank of Delaware and United Way of Delaware to assist struggling Delawareans with three immediate basic needs: food, shelter and utilities. The goal is to collect 300,000 pounds of food and $250,000 in monetary donations between November 7, 2008 and February 28, 2009.
For more information, visit www.uwde.org. To run a food drive, contact the Food Bank of Delaware at (302) 292-1305 ext. 211. To run a fundraiser, contact United Way of Delaware at (302) 573-3762. To make an individual donation, go to www.uwde.org, click “Donate” and select “Delaware Does More.”
