Feeding Community, Building Connection: Inside New Life Food Source Pantry

April 14, 2026

By the time you arrive at New Life Food Source Pantry, the work is already well underway—but what stands out most isn’t just the efficiency. It’s the deep sense of community.

In just two years, the pantry has grown from serving just a few households to reaching nearly 1,000 households each month. On this particular Thursday distribution day, just a few days before the Easter holiday, more than 130 families were served, a reflection of both the increasing need and the pantry’s deep commitment to meeting it.

That commitment starts long before distribution. Throughout the week, volunteers pick up donations from local grocery stores. The pantry’s reach is made possible through strong partnerships. Donations from local retailers including Food Lion, Acme, Aldi and Super G, coordinated through the Food Bank of Delaware, help keep shelves stocked.

Recently, the pantry’s capacity expanded even further when the Food Bank provided a retired box truck, replacing the passenger van previously used for pickups and allowing for greater volume and efficiency.

Each Wednesday, volunteers gather to pack bags with nonperishable items. On Thursdays – distribution day – they return to add perishable and frozen foods, along with a separate bag of bread. As distribution begins, the pace is steady and constant; when supplies start to run low, volunteers jump in without hesitation to pack more.

And yet, despite the fast pace, there is joy. Volunteers laugh and smile. The pantry feels filled with love and hope. Neighbors hug in line. There is dignity and genuine care at the New Life Food Source Pantry.

At the center of it all is Pastor David Pope.

Stationed at the pantry window, he greets each neighbor not as a number, but as a person.

“How’s your mom doing?” he asks one visitor.

To another, he offers a warm handshake and a smile: “Nice to meet you.”

“Happy Easter!” he calls out as bags are passed along.

When someone asks for a ham, he immediately turns to a volunteer: “Check to see if there’s a ham.”

“Can I trouble you for milk?” another visitor asks. A gallon is quickly added.

One visitor shares, “I’m blessed—I woke up this morning. I don’t believe in negativity.”

Another quietly explains that any extra food they receive goes to a neighbor across the street who lives alone.

Pastor Pope briefly stops his walk-up window service to tend to a line of delivery vehicles for homebound neighbors. A group of men loads the bags into a truck, ensuring that those who cannot travel still receive food. Among them is a 96-year-old volunteer, continuing to give back to his community.

Neighbors are served with respect thanks to dedicated volunteers who are a mix of church members and community residents—some of whom once received assistance themselves.

Among them are Winnie White (right) and Doris Jones (left), who regularly pack bread bags. Both live nearby in a senior housing complex that Pastor Pope also serves, personally delivering food to residents who cannot make it to the pantry.

“I love it here,” Winnie says with a smile. “Anything I can do for him [Pastor Pope].”

At 90 years old, she proudly adds, “I’m the oldest one here.”

For Aisha Dennis, who has volunteered for the past two years, the impact goes beyond numbers. She describes a strong sense of camaraderie among the team and deep appreciation from those they serve. What keeps her coming back is the connection. “You get to see the community,” she says.

And that’s exactly what New Life Food Source Pantry provides—not just food, but connection, compassion and consistency.

Pastor Pope’s mission is simple: feed the community. And that he does.

To learn more about the New Life Food Source Pantry, please click here.