In response to an overwhelming demand for emergency food, Catholic Charities Inc. of the Diocese of Wilmington is expanding its semiannual “Stock the Pantry” drive from November through February 2012.
“Especially during the holiday season, no family should go hungry,” said Richelle Vible, Catholic Charities’ executive director. “The stagnant economy continues to push low-income households to the brink. Membership in our food cooperatives continues to climb, and requests for our emergency food distributions are at an all-time high. Compounding the strain is the diminished inventory of food we usually receive through donations. Our neighbors need your support.”
Donors can drop off nonperishable food, grocery store gift cards, or cash donations at all Catholic Charities locations during regular business hours.
Catholic Charities coordinates food cooperative programs at Bayard House in Wilmington, Casa San Francisco in Milton, and at Seton Center in Princess Anne, Maryland.
Area residents can apply for membership in the food cooperatives by contacting Bayard House at 302-654-1184, Casa San Francisco at 302-684-8694, or Seton Center at 410-651-9608. Casa and Seton Center also operate emergency food pantries for those in crisis.
Catholic Charities will also accept monetary donations in order to purchase additional food to fill bags for the food distribution programs.
Currently, Catholic Charities has over 1,700 households enrolled in its food cooperatives at our three locations. More than 1,600 households received food from the two emergency food pantry locations last year.
To make an online monetary donation, visit Catholic Charities’ secure donation site, www.cdow.org/ccdonation.html.
Catholic Charities will accept donations at its locations Monday through Friday between 9 am to 4 pm. Drop off food donations at:
Main Office 2601 W 4TH Street Wilmington, DE 19805 302-655-9624
Bayard House 300 Bayard Avenue Wilmington, DE 19805 302-654-1184
Marydale Retirement Village 135 Jeandell Drive Newark, DE 19713 302-368-2784
Kent County Office 1155 Walker Road Dover, DE 19904 (302) 674-1600
Sussex County Office 406 S Bedford Street, Ste 9 Georgetown, DE 19947 302-856-9578
Casa San Francisco* 127 Broad Street Milton DE 19968 302-684-8694
Seton Center 30632 Hampden Avenue Princess Ann, MD 21853 410-651-9608
Suggested items for donation include nonperishable and shelf stable items. Catholic Charities needs the following items:
• canned goods like tuna, chicken, beef stew, corned beef hash, beans, soups, vegetables, fruit, and spaghetti
• boxes of pasta, macaroni and cheese, crackers, cereal, oatmeal, and pancake mix
• jars of peanut butter and jelly
• juice, coffee, tea, hot cocoa mix, instant breakfasts
• shelf-stable milk – either powdered or evaporated
• baby food and cereal
• condiments like spreads, ketchup, mustard, relish, barbecue sauce, pickles and syrup
