Keystone Opportunity Center Inc., a Souderton-based nonprofit, expects to be about 2,000 pounds of produce short of the 5,500 pounds it needs each week to feed the local community going forward.
Philabundance, a main supplier of its fresh produce, has reduced its weekly donation to Keystone’s Fresh For All program by 2,000 pounds due to an increase in service locations and growing need.
There is no doubt that an increase in the price of produce was an additional factor.
Keystone maintains two locations for food distribution; Fresh For All, the fresh produce distribution program in the rear parking lot of Grace Bible Church at Main Street and Summit Avenue; and Keystone’s Food Pantry, in the rear of its building at 104 N. Main St. Both are in Souderton.
Fresh For All distributes food on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m. The Food Pantry is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Fresh For All program gets 95% of its produce from Philabundance (Delaware Valley), with the balance coming from the MontCo Anti-Hunger Network and Garden of Health (Upper Gwynedd).
The Food Pantry receives about 20% of its produce from Philabundance as it relies largely on donations from the public.
Clarice Foster, Keystone’s Food Pantry Manager, reported that Keystone was hoping to receive 5,000 to 6,500 pounds and must now manage with 3,500 pounds.
Julie Menardi, the Manager of the Mobile Food Pantry stated; “While the bulk of our produce comes from Philabundance, we also receive donations from local businesses such as Hennings (Harleysville), Pepperidge Farms and Necessity Farms (Telford).”
“I enjoy being a part of an organization that supports our neighbors in so many ways. Times are challenging especially for people with food insecurities. Being able to provide fresh fruits and vegetables every Tuesday through the Fresh For All program is essential.”
In 2023, Fresh For All distributed free produce to more than 10,300 cars (one family per car). That’s 44% more cars than 2022. Families receive 20 to 30 pounds of food a week.
In 2022, it distributed 486,613 pounds of food, a 10% increase from 2021 and provided 7,147 cars with food.
This year Keystone has seen a 50% drop in food donations, while seeing a 30% increase in families needing assistance.
The Food Pantry covers communities within the Souderton Area School District, which includes; Franconia, Lower Salford, Salford, Souderton, Telford, and Upper Salford.
According to its website, Keystone Opportunity Inc., and its predecessors have been providing services for 54 years. Keystone was formed in 2009 from the merger of the Indian Valley Opportunity Center (IVOC, founded in 1970) and the Indian Valley Housing Corporation (IVHC, founded in 1990).
In addition serving those experiencing food insecurity, Keystone Opportunity also provides with housing, education, and other community services.
The public can help by donating foods, donating funds, organizing food drives or volunteering.
Visit Keystoneopportunity.org for more information.
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