Mobile pantry visit helps stock young families’ shelves
June 21, 2016
By Gwen Guerke, Communications Coordinator
Families connected to Primeros Pasos, an early childhood education center, enjoyed the benefits of the Food Bank of Delaware’s mobile pantry.
The center, located in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Georgetown, provides care and developmentally appropriate education for children ages 2-5.
Chris Miller-Marcen, a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lewes, arranged the mobile pantry as part of her personal ministry, Feed The Children Heart & Soul Ministry.
Miller-Marcen is embarking on a 3-year journey to become an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church, and in addition to academic studies, she is required to have a mission project. During the winter, she connected to Primeros Pasos (First Steps) through a fellow member of St. Peter’s who serves on the center’s board.
During the winter, volunteers from St. Peter’s head to Georgetown once a week to prepare a hot meal for families whose children attend the center. Miller-Marcen also arranged for a bookmobile stop, and in the fall, 40 families from the center will receive Food Bank of Delaware backpacks filled with weekend meals.
Meanwhile, during the recent mobile pantry, about 20 families had pre-registered and in all, 31 families went home with about 100 pounds of food. At a mobile pantry, the Food Bank’s Kraft Mobile Pantry brings both shelf-stable and fresh foods to low-income Delawareans.
One benefit of the mobile pantry is that people can select food that suits their personal preferences. At this pantry, young mothers allowed their children to participate in the decision-making process.
Through the program, households access the pantry choosing foods best suited for their family! In addition, an education session may take place prior to distribution focusing on a variety of topics including nutrition, financial literacy, healthcare and more.
Community partners are currently needed to host the pantry distribution.
For more information, please contact Dave Weddle, Mobile Pantry Coordinator, at (302) 444-8129 or dweddle@fbd.org.
If your family is in need of food assistance, please dial 2-1-1 for the Delaware Helpline.
