Freedom from Hunger Food drive surpasses goal, breaks record

When the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board launched this year’s fall Freedom from Hunger Food Drive in August, its goal was to collect monetary donations to provide 60,000 pounds of food.

That goal was met — and exceeded.

The tourism board announced Tuesday that the initiative, which ran through October, set a record by raising the monetary equivalent of more than 100,000 pounds of food.

Combined with the food drive held during the spring, the tourism board’s total contribution for 2023 was 132,044 pounds of food. Since the food drive was launched in 2015, it has contributed 264,044 pounds of food.

“We are blown away by the support from our members and partners,” Mike Bowman, president & CEO of the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board, said in a statement. “Key leaders in this community truly stepped up, and we’re beyond grateful to fight hunger together with them.”

What started as a pledge to Pope Francis at the end of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in 2015 has become part of the fall landscape in Montgomery County. Freedom from Hunger continues to build awareness around the increased need in the county due to the impact of the rising cost of food, which has jumped more than 10% over the last year, according to the tourism board.

This year’s fall fundraiser was once again held exclusively online, and supports local food pantries and soup kitchens struggling to feed more in the community with fewer funds. The money raised will help buy requested food items like eggs, poultry, ground beef and paper products.

As it has in the past, the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board partnered with the MontCo Anti-Hunger Network, a coalition of hunger relief organizations working together to keep families stable with food assistance. The network provides resources to almost 70 free meal providers and food pantries in the county.

“Through the collective spirit of our community, the fall Freedom from Hunger Food Drive has not only surpassed its fundraising goal, raising over $8,000, but has also fueled the vital mission of MontCo Anti-Hunger Network,” Amanda Musselman, executive director of the network, said in a statement. “Together we stand united against the growing hunger crisis faced by our neighbors, ensuring that over 60 food pantries and meal providers receive the nutritious food resources they need.”

The 2022 fall Freedom from Hunger initiative raised the monetary equivalent of 45,000 pounds of food, while the spring drive raised the monetary equivalent of 32,000 pounds of food.

According to Nokidhunger.org, for every dollar donated, seven meals  — or 12 pounds of food — can be provided by using money to buy food in bulk to give to families in need. Monetary donations are most impactful to aid with buying high-demand and much-needed items, including for personal care, the release stated.

In addition to individual donations, several area businesses contributed at least $500 to this year’s initiative, the agency said.

“The success of this initiative reflects our shared commitment to making a meaningful impact in our community,” Musselman added.

The Freedom from Hunger Food Drive was created as a farewell gift to Pope Francis in 2015 when the pontiff stayed in Montgomery County at the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary during the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, and is meant to benefit all people accessing food pantry services.

Those needing assistance can view the list of the newtwork’s food pantries and soup kitchens at montcoantihunger.org/mahn-member-food-pantries.html.

To make a donation to Freedom from Hunger, visit valleyforge.org/hunger.