Help Catholic Charities feed the hungry this summer

Hunger doesn’t take the summer off - and Catholic Charities Inc. again asks all its communities to Stock the Pantry by making donations of nonperishable food goods during the month of June. Donors can drop off food and grocery store gift cards at Catholic Charities locations during regular business hours.

“Today, many of our neighbors are making tough choices in order to survive - do I pay the rent, or do I buy food,” said Richelle Vible, Catholic Charities executive director. “The benefit reduction in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps, further penalizes low-income households already at risk of going hungry. We continue to need your support to meet the increasing demand we are experiencing.”

Catholic Charities coordinates food cooperative programs at Casa San Francisco in Sussex County. Residents can apply for membership in the programs by contacting Casa San Francisco at 302-684-8694. For those in crisis who need food, Casa operates emergency food pantries.

Currently, Catholic Charities serves over 3,000 households each year through its food distribution programs.

In addition to nonperishable food and grocery store gift cards, Catholic Charities will also accept monetary donations in order to purchase additional food to fill bags for the food distribution programs.

To make an online monetary donation, go to Catholic Charities’ secure donation site go to www.cdow.org/ccdonation.html. Under “Please designate my gift to the following ministry” choose Food Distribution Programs.

Catholic Charities will accept donations at its locations Monday through Friday between 9 am to 4 pm. Drop off food donations at:

Catholic Charities, 406 S Bedford St., Suite 9, Georgetown, 302-856-9578, and Casa San Francisco, 127 Broad St., Milton, 302-684-8694.

Go to www.cdow.org/charities.html for additional collection sites.

Suggested items for donation include nonperishable and shelf stable items.

Catholic Charities, serving those in need for over 180 years, offers a wide range of services to strengthen families, care for children, assist the disadvantaged, and build human relationships throughout Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.