The Changing Face of Hunger in Delaware County

We had a great day on Friday when over 120 people attended the Changing Face of Hunger in Delaware County awareness day on Friday, March 6, 2009 at Widener University in Chester, PA. The keynote speaker, Dr. Mariana Chilton, principal investigator for the Grow Project at Drexel University, challenged the audience to think about the living conditions that contribute to hunger.

A panel of CityTeam, Loaves and Fishes, the Bernardine Center and the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger shared success stories regarding recruiting and retaining volunteers and finding funding for food cupboards and food resources. Good tips for any organization that depends on volunteer assistance!

Lunch provided an opportunity for participants to peruse displays from WIC, the Food Trust, Penn State Nutrition Links, DCIU Head Start, CityTeam, CAADC (SNAP-food stamps),Chester Food Coop, DIFAN, NDS-Archdiocese of Phila., Philabundance, SHARE, Bernardine Center, COSA and Greater Phila. Coalition Against Hunger. This was a wonderful chance to network and find out what resources were provided by these organizations.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are often missing in diets when money is tight. Panelists from the Food Trust Farmer's Markets, Philabundance's Fresh for All, SHARE and Penn State Urban Master Gardeners shared where to find these foods in Delaware Co. at low cost, free and where WIC participants and seniors can use summer farmer'smarket vouchers.

The day wrapped up with FRAC's Ellen Teller, advocate for hunger issues in Wash DC, who stressed that we all need to let our legislators know what we are doing to address hunger in our county, what our clients need and how our representatives can vote to support adequate food for all.

Many thanks to the planning committee of Amy Nardi, Marilyn Sileo, Linda Freeman, Kelly Hile, Karen May, Sr. Josandra Ciucci, Sr. Rose MacDermott, Linda Wolk, Cynthia Barrar, Filomena Ahlefeld, Kathy Hornberger, Anne Ayella, Alan Edelstein, Barbara Myers, and Fran Alloway.