Volunteers, Donations Still Needed for Bucks Knocks Out Hunger

Provided by the United of Way of Bucks County:

United Way of Bucks County is hosting its second annual Bucks Knocks Out Hunger food packing event on June 20 at Delaware Valley College from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., sponsored by First Federal of Bucks County. The event aims  to provide nutritious meals to members of the community who are ‘food insecure,’  meaning they don’t know where their next meal is coming from.  One in ten Bucks County residents are food insecure.

If UW Bucks reaches its fundraising goal of $55,000, this event will provide 100,000 prepackaged, shelf-stable meals to Bucks County Opportunity Council’s network of 27 food pantries and 6 senior centers. These funds will also allow Delaware Valley College’s Hope of the Harvest Charitable Garden and Winter Greenhouse and Rolling Harvest Food Rescue to provide 35,000 pounds of fresh produce to the pantries. Remaining funds will be donated to the pantries to obtain lean protein and other perishable items such as milk and butter that are crucial but rarely donated. It is similar to last year’s plans, but on a larger scale.

“In 2013, Bucks County responded to BKO Hunger with generosity and enthusiasm.   The response demonstrated that food insecurity was an issue that matters to many here locally, and that BKO was an approach they could get behind.” explained Tim Philpot of UW Bucks.

The event got off to a strong start with a generous donation of $10,000 from First Federal of Bucks County. “We had a great year in 2013 and we knew that hunger was a real priority and concern locally. We decided to deploy our funds to that mission, and connected with Jamie for Bucks Knocks Out Hunger,” said Jeane M. Coyle, President/CEO of First Federal of Bucks County.

With one week until the event, BKO Hunger has only raised $29,000. Donations are crucial to the success of this project. Each meal costs only 25 cents to pack, so gifts of all sizes make a big difference. Donations can be made online at www.uwbucks.org/bkohunger, dropped off at any Univest Bank in Bucks County, or mailed to the UW Bucks office (413 Hood Blvd, Fairless Hills, PA 19030) with the subject line “BKO Hunger.”

BKO Hunger is beneficial to the community in a numerous ways. It provides nutrition to families and children in Bucks County, allowing for healthier families and kids who do better in school. It also promotes sustainability and environmental responsibility by providing produce from local farms with environmentally friendly practices. These two elements help create a more stable, healthier community for all.

“The time is now that, as a community, we must band together and collectively impact the basic needs of hunger in Bucks County. That way, those in need can further focus on other areas of their lives.” said Jamie Haddon, President/CEO of UW Bucks.

BKO Hunger still has volunteer opportunities available to help pack meals, work in the gardens and greenhouses of Del Val College, or help publicize the event.  Visit www.uwbucks.org/BKOHunger to get involved, and follow the progress of BKO Hunger on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UWBucks or twitter @uwbucks.