Food Center at Morrisville Presbyterian Church feeds the hungry from Trenton and Bucks County
pschlatter@buckslocalnews.com
MORRISVILLE – Most of the people, who go to the non-profit Food Center at the Morrisville Presbyterian Church, are from Trenton, N.J.
Some people come from Yardley, Bensalem, Bristol, Levittown and Ewing, N.J.
The center is looking to expand its outreach in Bucks County for residents who need support.
Tim Stauffer, 56, the new director of the center, said it has become harder to keep the shelves stocked because of the economy.
Some people come from Yardley, Bensalem, Bristol, Levittown and Ewing, N.J.
The center is looking to expand its outreach in Bucks County for residents who need support.
Tim Stauffer, 56, the new director of the center, said it has become harder to keep the shelves stocked because of the economy.
“We’re in a real Catch 22,” he said.
“We used to get support from the state of New Jersey,” he said, “but because they’re cutting everything and we’re in Pennsylvania, they could no longer support us even though 85 percent of our clients come from New Jersey.”
Plus, the annual fundraiser, Hike against Hunger, fell $4,500 short of the goal this year.
A Lower Makefield resident, Stauffer recently replaced Carol Romano, who served as director for five years.
Stauffer recognized her on Sunday, Nov. 17 during the regular service at the church.
The food center is in the basement of the church, which is located on the corner of West Trenton Avenue and North Pennsylvania Avenue in Morrisville Borough.
Stauffer stressed that the food center started as an outreach program of the church.
“Now, we have our own bank account separate from the church,” he said.
The church provides the space to store and distribute the food free of charge.
Stauffer, who worked in the book publishing field for 25 years in New York City, tries to think positively about being unemployed. He said some things are meant to be.
“It has become my life,” he said of the food center. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
Stauffer said volunteering with the food center is like having a full-time job.
“I wanted to do something with my time,” he said. “I got involved in interviewing the clients and I enjoy working with the computer system.”
Part of the interviewing process includes dealing with residency requirements in order for people to qualify for the free program. There has to be verification of their residency and other occupants in the household. Proof of income is also required.
“Based on those, we allot them a certain amount of food,” Stauffer said.
People can bring perishables like frozen turkeys to the food center. Giant Food Stores, for example, gives free turkeys to its customers before Thanksgiving.
“Now, we have our own bank account separate from the church,” he said.
The church provides the space to store and distribute the food free of charge.
Stauffer, who worked in the book publishing field for 25 years in New York City, tries to think positively about being unemployed. He said some things are meant to be.
“It has become my life,” he said of the food center. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
Stauffer said volunteering with the food center is like having a full-time job.
“I wanted to do something with my time,” he said. “I got involved in interviewing the clients and I enjoy working with the computer system.”
Part of the interviewing process includes dealing with residency requirements in order for people to qualify for the free program. There has to be verification of their residency and other occupants in the household. Proof of income is also required.
“Based on those, we allot them a certain amount of food,” Stauffer said.
People can bring perishables like frozen turkeys to the food center. Giant Food Stores, for example, gives free turkeys to its customers before Thanksgiving.
Perishables can be dropped off on Tuesdays between 9 a.m. and noon when volunteers are available in the basement location.
Non-perishables can be dropped off at the foot of the stairs after entering through the rear entrance of the church.
Distribution of food takes place on Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Clients pick up frozen turkeys before Thanksgiving so they can properly defrost them. There is also a special distribution of turkey dinners for 80 clients.
For people who want to help feed the area’s hungry, Stauffer said the best thing is to write a check.
“The last director and myself decided to buy chicken parts wholesale -- fresh frozen chicken,” he said. “We buy cereals and all sorts of staples at good prices.”
With the monetary donations, the volunteers buy what is needed and what the clients want.
“While donating canned goods and dried pasta is good, it’s more labor intensive than writing a check,” he said.
Even when Thanksgiving is over, the food center will take as many frozen turkeys as possible since Christmas is fast approaching.
“It’s a lot of work,” Stauffer said. “We have an incredible group of people who are united in their desire to feed hungry people. It’s a big operation.”
Non-perishables can be dropped off at the foot of the stairs after entering through the rear entrance of the church.
Distribution of food takes place on Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Clients pick up frozen turkeys before Thanksgiving so they can properly defrost them. There is also a special distribution of turkey dinners for 80 clients.
For people who want to help feed the area’s hungry, Stauffer said the best thing is to write a check.
“The last director and myself decided to buy chicken parts wholesale -- fresh frozen chicken,” he said. “We buy cereals and all sorts of staples at good prices.”
With the monetary donations, the volunteers buy what is needed and what the clients want.
“While donating canned goods and dried pasta is good, it’s more labor intensive than writing a check,” he said.
Even when Thanksgiving is over, the food center will take as many frozen turkeys as possible since Christmas is fast approaching.
“It’s a lot of work,” Stauffer said. “We have an incredible group of people who are united in their desire to feed hungry people. It’s a big operation.”
Last year, the food center distributed over 150,000 pounds of food.
“We need volunteers and we need money,” Stauffer said. “We need people who are computer savvy and people who are willing to lift groceries and haul them out of the building. We always need help with public relations.”
Stauffer said it is gratifying to help people in need.
“I enjoy that our work is so immediate,” he said. “I come on Tuesdays to unload fresh fruit and produce we get from Philabundance. We set up our food tables the next day, and the next day we give it all away.”
Checks can be made payable to The Food Center and mailed to The Food Center at Morrisville Presbyterian Church, 771 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Morrisville, Pa. 19067.
Although the food center is its own entity, the church still helps as a support group.
For more information, call the church at 215-295-4191 or email firstmpc@verizon.net
“We need volunteers and we need money,” Stauffer said. “We need people who are computer savvy and people who are willing to lift groceries and haul them out of the building. We always need help with public relations.”
Stauffer said it is gratifying to help people in need.
“I enjoy that our work is so immediate,” he said. “I come on Tuesdays to unload fresh fruit and produce we get from Philabundance. We set up our food tables the next day, and the next day we give it all away.”
Checks can be made payable to The Food Center and mailed to The Food Center at Morrisville Presbyterian Church, 771 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Morrisville, Pa. 19067.
Although the food center is its own entity, the church still helps as a support group.
For more information, call the church at 215-295-4191 or email firstmpc@verizon.net
