COUNCILMEMBER HENON, CARING FOR FRIENDS ANNOUNCE UPDATES ON COVID-19 INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT PHILADELPHIANS FACING FOOD INSECURITY

In Bobby Henon, Council News, Mark Squilla, News by admin

Like it? Share it!

PHILADELPHIA, April 14, 2020 – Councilmember Bobby Henon (6th District) along with Caring for FriendsFeast of JusticeCity Reach Churchthe Diaper Bank, and ICNA Shams Clinic are announcing their ongoing coordination to help fill the gap in services during the pandemic. This coalition will continue to focus on bringing food and personal care products directly to some of our most vulnerable people.

Councilmember Henon said of this initiative, “This coordinated effort is exactly what people need to see during this tense time. NESTco is a non-profit partnership I formed with different service providers in my District and we are excited to have some of those members partner with other organizations to help seniors and those diagnosed with COVID-19 receive the supplies they direly need.”

The purpose of this effort is to streamline the process of supply pickups in order to ensure people are staying home and not leaving the house multiple times a day or week because they can not access supplies in one place. Feast of Justice, headed by Pastor Tricia Neale, is a City food distribution site as well as operating food pantry hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays. In coordination with the Diaper Bank and ICNA Shams Clinic people will be able to call Councilmember Henon’s office and request diapers, formula, medicine, or personal hygiene products to be picked up when they come to Feast of Justice to attain food.

Spearheading and ensuring food product is making it to Feast of Justice is Vince Schiavone of Caring for Friends, “We are providing food to community pantries and faith organizations who are serving homebound seniors and families who can’t leave their homes and communities at this time. We are grateful for this partnership that is able to support Feast of Justice and so many others at this critical time.”

City Reach Church, under the leadership of Pastor Mark Novales, has volunteers aiding with packaging food for distribution at Caring for Friends as well as handling the deliveries of these supplies to our most vulnerable such as seniors and those diagnosed with COVID-19 who need to self-quarantine. To date, 2,400 boxes of non-perishable food have been packaged at the Caring for Friends warehouse and been delivered to pantries or people in need.

Councilmember Henon concluded, “I am beyond proud and grateful to these partners and individuals who have stepped up in a big way during this pandemic. We need volunteers now more than ever and we need to ensure proper protocols are in place to ensure our volunteers are also able to stay healthy. This coalition is taking action to really help streamline this process in order to keep Philadelphians in their home and healthy.”

Anyone who would like to volunteer can reach out to Councilmember Bobby Henon’s office at 215-686-3444.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email