Croda donates $5,000 to support Rose Hill Community Center
December 23, 2020
Hundreds of people served by the Rose Hill Community Center in New Castle will benefit from a generous $5,000 donation from Croda to support the center’s food party. A portion of those funds will be used to purchase a freezer for the agency, with the remaining money going toward food purchases.
Sheila Berkel, the agency’s executive director, explains that Rose Hill is a non-profit social service agency serving between 100 and 200 families – ranging from children to seniors.
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted demand for client services, Berkel said. “In the beginning, when people received the stimulus unemployment check, our numbers were low; I’d say dropped to a trickle. But when that stopped, our numbers tripled. We have a lot more people with a lot more needs.”
With programs that range from six Head Start classes, a Boys & Girls Club and two senior centers, the center also provides a range of services in addition to the food pantry: a wedding chapel, a fitness center, a youth probation center, and a space for 11 churches to hold services each week. Berkel said the two-room food pantry, open two days a week, is arranged to have separate space for refrigerated items, including meats. Clients – who must be Delaware residents — are able to come in once a week to make selections based on family size. The recent Croda donation will enable the agency to continue those services.
Croda Atlas Point Site Director Chris Barnett explained that the donation supports the corporation’s mission. “At Croda we have made it our Purpose to use our Smart science to improve lives™. We apply this purpose in all aspects of our business. We are proud to have partnered with the Food Bank of Delaware whose admirable mission of combating hunger in our community for nearly 40 years is fully in alignment with our purpose and corporate values. The Food Bank of Delaware has invested in the New Castle Community alongside noteworthy organizations like the Rose Hill Community Center. It is our privilege to partner with the Food Bank of Delaware and the Rose Hill Community Center and work together to make a difference in the fight against hunger.”
Visit www.fbd.org to learn more about the Food Bank’s mission and how you can help food-insecure Delawareans.
