Community Corner

Local Food Pantries to Benefit from Nutrition Collaboration

Clemens Food Group, Philabundance and Nutrition Coalition are providing six pantries with refrigerated and frozen foods.

Six local food pantries are about to be filled up with food donated by a partnership of three Delaware Valley organizations.

Last Friday, Hatfield Quality Meats and CFC Logistics in Quakertown, both subsidiaries of Clemens Food Group, Philabundance and the Nutrition Coalition announced a collaboration to provide food pantries with frozen and refrigerated foods.

The effort is to fight hunger in the Greater North Penn and Indian Valley communities. Most of the donated foods will be in the form of protein products that are vital to a healthy diet, according to Kristyn DiDominick, development associate at Manna on Main Street in Lansdale.

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The six local Nutrition Coalition pantries benefitting from the partnership are:

  • in Lansdale
  • Lamb Foundation in North Wales
  • Keystone Opportunity Center in Souderton
  • Hatfield Church of the Brethren in Hatfield
  • Emmanuel Evangelical Church in Hatfield
  • Shepherd’s Shelf at Christ Lutheran Church in Towamencin

and CFC Logistics are donating and storing surplus protein products for Nutrition Coalition pantries, which are a part of the Philabundance agency network, according to DiDominick.

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Philabundnace transports requested orders from CFC Logistics storage to Manna on Main Street. Manna acts as a central pick-up point for all Nutrition Coalition agencies, DiDominick said.

At present, three deliveries have been made to pantries, totaling more than 4,000 pounds of protein.

“Manna on Main Street is excited about this partnership for the promise it holds in improving the lives of the people we serve,” said Tom Allebach, executive director at Manna on Main Street. Manna also serves as the Nutrition Coalition’s fiscal sponsor.

“The Nutrition Coalition put a priority on providing fresh, healthier options for pantry clients,” said Moriah Hall, project manager for the Nutrition Coalition at The Food Trust. “We are truly grateful to Clemens Food Group and Philabundance. Their willingness to share resources has made our goal a reality.”

In a press release, Eric Haman, communications manager for Clemens Food Group, said the company is excited about the partnership, as it touches thousands of lives in the community.

“This alliance gives us the opportunity to not only donate much needed protein to families in need, but in addition, allows us to offer much needed space to help safely store the product until it gets distributed,” Haman said.

According to a press release, the alliance will help solve a longstanding issue that some agencies face: lack of transportation and refrigerated and frozen storage. Now, nutritious and expensive protein products will end up on the tables of those who need it most in the community.

“Philabundance is proud to be part of this collaborative effort to get nutritious perishable food items to people in need in the North Penn and Indian Valley communities,” said Bill Clark, president and executive director of Philabundance. “Philabundance is focusing on supporting our agencies in their communities so they can provide the food that is in great demand.”


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