Bucks County food pantries overwhelmed as Give A Christmas drive continues

Have a free turkey you earned at a supermarket but just don't have room for in your refrigerator or freezer?

The Bucks County Opportunity Council would welcome it at one of its more than 70 food pantries or distribution centers.

"If you have a turkey certificate, redeem it and give it to the food pantry," said Elizabeth Zbinden, BCOC director of food programs.

The BCOC wants people to know that it now has refrigeration and freezers at almost all of its pantries so donations of meats, fresh produce, eggs, butter, and other foods that need refrigeration are also being accepted to help families in need have a nutritious, well-rounded diet.

Sweet potatoes, regular potatoes and onions are also needed.

And don't forget cooking oils, condiments and spices.

"The biggest things are cooking essentials," said Zbinden.

On Friday, at the Jesus Focus Ministries Pantry in Upper Southampton, 96 vehicles pulled up for donations.

"We're overwhelmed with people coming to the food pantry," said Guy Murdoch, who assists there. It is open from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and averages 80 families a day.

In the past fiscal year, the BCOC-supported pantries distributed 2.9 million pounds of food and had 75,280 visits from people in need.

Donations free up family budgets

The BCOC is partnering with The Intelligencer for its Give A Christmas drive again this year to raise funds for the good work the opportunity council does in supporting those in the community who are struggling financially.

The goal is $165,000. Donations during the month of November marked "Share the Warmth" will be matched by First Commonwealth Bank.

Last year's Intell-BCOC GAC drive helped more than 500 families, including 1,500 individuals. Each family received an average assistance of $220 from GAC funds as well as additional support from the nonprofit and its partners.

Donate to Intell-BCOC Give A Christmas: Help Give A Christmas to Central and Upper Bucks County neighbors in need

The Intelligencer's sister newspaper, The Bucks County Courier Times, is working with the Levittown-Bristol Kiwanis Club to support families in Lower Bucks. It has a goal of $125,000.

The Courier-Kiwanis GAC provided some 3,835 vouchers last year, helping 2,505 families with the $113,372 in donations.

Donate to Courier-Kiwanis GAC: Help Give A Christmas to Bucks County neighbors in need

Zbinden said that helping people put food on the table frees up their paychecks for other things like Christmas gifts for their children, rent, utilities or other necessities they need. And the BCOC provides financial assistance as well for those facing economic difficulties through the funds collected by Give A Christmas.

"We want everyone to have the dignity to be able to provide a good holiday (for their family)," she said.

A list of the BCOC supported food pantries and their hours of operation is available at https://bcoc.org/food-pantries/.

Maximize giving with "Share the Warmth" effort for Intell-BCOC Give a Christmas

Through the month of November there is also a chance to double your giving to our Intell-BCOC drive so please consider donating now.

Contributions made by Nov. 30 will be doubled by First Commonwealth Bank if the words "Share the Warmth" are written on checks contributed. Online contributions will automatically be doubled, said BCOC Director of Development Joseph Cuozzo.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Give A Christmas supports food pantries "overwhelmed" with need