Meet a Partner: Cape Henlopen Food Pantry

May 26, 2022

Our work is not possible without our network of Hunger-Relief Partners! Meet Clare MacDonald, Cape Henlopen Food Pantry board secretary, and volunteer Frank Fumagalli.

Tell us a little about your agency. The Cape Henlopen Food Pantry provides emergency food service for anyone in need. The pantry is open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. While we primarily focus on the Cape Henlopen School District, clients are asked to bring a Delaware ID. In 2021, we distributed 3,595 food allotments.

What makes your agency unique? We are able to offer frozen meat, poultry or fish with the two weeks of groceries we provide for individuals or families. We now have more refrigeration so we can supply healthier options – fresh fruits and vegetables. And we have “shoppers’ choices” on some items, in addition to the bags we provide.

How many volunteers help you keep things running smoothly? We have 90 volunteers; there is no paid staff. We are all volunteers.

The Cape region is perceived as an affluent resort area, but you see people who need food? We see grandparents with grandchildren, families going through reorganization. Seasonal workers feel the impact of working in a resort community. There’s also a homeless population here.

You also partner with other service agencies as well? We partner with providing food to Shepherd House in Georgetown and with the West Rehoboth Child Care Center; we take them lunches and after-school meals. We work with the Cape Henlopen School District. We belong to the Lewes – Rehoboth Association of Churches and are part of a new organization, Cape Community Coordination for COVID-19.

 How has the COVID pandemic impacted you and the people you serve? People have been very generous with donations. But we’ve had to change logistically – for safety. People can’t come in any more. We’re actually seeing fewer people. Maybe it’s because there are more pantries, more people distributing food? Now, transportation may also be an issue.

Click here to learn more about the Cape Henlopen Food Basket!  To learn more about becoming a partner of the Food Bank of Delaware, click here!