For the fourth year, John’s Supply and Rental owners, John and Dorothy Seldomridge, and their family are hosting a holiday food drive at the Honey Brook Food Pantry, located at Door 8 of the Good Food Distribution Center, on Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
“This is a Seldomridge family thing that just got started over a dinner conversation,” said Debbie Elmer, one of the facilitators of the drive. “We were enlightened to just how many people out there are in need.”
The drive is a four-year tradition. In the past, all proceeds were donated to the Chester County Food Pantry, but this year, donations will go directly to Honey Brook residents through the Honey Brook Food Pantry.
“We decided to do it through Honey Brook because we want everything we collect to go to the people in our town who are in need,” said Elmer.
For those who are unable to make the food drive and would like to donate, boxes have been set out at various community locations: John’s Supply and Rental, Stoltzfus Market, Honey Brook Pharmacy, M&T Bank, Good Food Store, September Farms and Honey Brook Golf Store.
The Honey Brook Food Pantry started serving the community in 2013.
Ken Ross, who chairs the Board of Directors for the pantry, will be available on the day of the food drive to show people around and give them information as to what happens at the food pantry.
“We are playing a supportive role in the food drive for John’s Supply,” said Ross. “This project is completely theirs. They started it, and we are offering the space they need. We have the refrigeration, storage and volunteers.”
The Honey Brook Food Pantry has close to 80 volunteers involved. More than 450 “food insecure” families are registered, and the pantry serves 700 individuals monthly, according to Ross.
Elmer is looking forward to seeing the turnout of the fourth year.
“We get more and more donations each year,” she said. “We’re excited to be working with Ken and the Honey Brook Food Pantry this year, and we’re hoping that will be an ongoing thing.”
The foods most needed at the pantry are pasta, rice, macaroni and cheese, instant potatoes, breakfast cereal, peanut butter and jelly, soup, canned fruit, stew and pasta meals, tuna and spaghetti sauce.
This year, food distribution will begin early with an additional day on Dec. 13.
Good Food Distribution Center is located at 5064 Horseshoe Pike in Honey Brook.
For more information, call Susan Shirk at 610-587-0785 or email John’s Supply at johnssupplyandrental@yahoo.com.
