More than $12,000 was raised for Honey Brook Food Pantry this summer by the July 12 golf outing and the Aug. 27 Honey Brook Music Fest held at Honeybrook Golf Club and Greenside Grill, Honey Brook.
“Blue Marsh Insurance was the Main Event Sponsor for the golf outing and Knies Insurance was a key contributor for the Music Fest. The success of the pantry is to a large extent the support we receive from the community. And, in turn, our community benefits when we work together and help our neighbors most in need,” said Donna Horvath co-owner of the golf club along with her brothers Tom and Ted.
This year’s Music Fest featured four entertainers: The Mystery Guest Band, Joe Waterloo, Sam Schmidthuber and The Floats.
First on stage was Morgantown singer and guitar player Sam Schmidthuber, 15, who performed George Strait tunes and other country favorites. He just got back from Nashville after recording his first album with songs that he wrote and others. Sam is a frequent entertainer at the Golf Club and also travels the state preforming at carnivals, restaurants and such.
By dusk the bands were playing full steam, the people who brought their own lawn chairs were eating burgers and drinking on the green. The livened up crowd was dancing and humming along to favorites under the moonlight.
The fundraiser supports Honey Brook Food Pantry.
“One of our biggest needs is raising money to pay our rent. These fundraisers are critical for that and the board is always looking for new ideas to help support that effort,” said Bridgett Lillis, food pantry board member.
“The need is very great,” said Randy Blough, a volunteer. “I thought at first it was a fault of their own that people were in this situation. No, it is from lack of jobs that pay a living wage, or people who are challenged. The most important part is giving them their dignity. I’ve been lucky in life. I’ve never had to face these challenges. You do want to give back.”
His wife Debbie Blough said, “People just need to be listened to. I am a good listener.”
“After the great recession of 2008 our clientele tripled over three years in Downingtown. Not many mid-paying jobs were available, mostly only minimum wage. Corporate America needs to reach down, even if it comes out of their bottom line,” he said.
Ken Ross, who co-founded Honey Brook Food Pantry along with Donna Horvath about four years ago, was working the ticket booth, greeting guests and keeping things running smoothly while chatting it up with the volunteers.
“We rely on more than 80 volunteers and fundraisers like these to keep things going. Neighbors helping neighbors,” said Ross.
Ross said, “The Honey Brook Food Pantry began serving local residents in January 2014. Initially, the monthly mobile food distribution was supported by the Chester County Food Bank and a local team from the Lord’s Pantry of Downingtown. Today the Honey Brook Food Pantry operates as a free standing 501 (c)(3) (tax exempt) organization and welcomes donor and volunteers from the Honey Brook area and surrounding communities.”
Ross said Honey Brook Food Pantry is growing.
“We run a backpack program for over 70 kids from Twin Valley and Honey Brook elementary schools. This is weekend supplemental food, with no perishables. They are packed at the food bank and given out by volunteers at the schools.”
This summer alone the pantry served an additional 75 new families, he said.
“People look around at this rich farmland and wonder why so any families can’t feed themselves. We have over 15 percent poverty rate in Honey Brook Township. This is among the highest in the county. Twin Valley School District, 39 percent of elementary students are receiving free or reduced lunches. There are 15 mobile communities with nearly 1,000 units along Route 322, not all are poverty level but many are. We made 25 home deliveries last month. We are always looking for guys with trucks.”
Honey Brook Food Pantry served more than 240 people last month.
Beth Isakson, who has been a volunteer from the start, talked about her work at the pantry.
“Our set-up crew prepacks all the non-perishables for each family every two weeks. We prepare bags of canned goods, cereal, juice, peanut butter, etc. People are so appreciative.”
Cooking demonstrations are now conducted at the food pantry, for making such things as salmon cakes and zucchini bread. Volunteers also hand out recipe cards, said Isakson.
Tom Tidball, another volunteer, explained the system.
“We take them around from station to station while we build a relationship with them: frozen meat; a bag of dairy products; coffee and tea; fresh bread and rolls, breakfast, desserts, sweets. Then outside to produce where each family gets 20 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables that we buy at auction or are donated to us by local grocers of farmers.”
Tidball said some people bring cloth bags or the pantry supplies plastic bags and carry everything to their vehicle.
“We also have many people that donate household goods, furniture, clothing, etc. like a flea market and the clients are welcome to those for free,” he added.
For information visit www.honeybrookfoodpantry.org. If interested in volunteering on distribution days, please contact Ken. There are a variety of duties, some physically demanding, some not. Contact Ken Ross at 610-291-0067 or Kross1414@aol.com, Donna Horvath at 610-633-9337 or Donna@honeybrookgolf.com. For distribution hours, call 610-273-6102. Honey Brook Food Pantry is located at Goods Food Distribution Center Door #8, 5064 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook, PA 19344.