Young volunteers preparing meals.
Credit: United Way of Bucks County
The United Way of Bucks County’s signature hunger fighting effort is celebrating its fifth year providing hunger relief throughout the community.
Bucks Knocks Out Hunger is celebrating its efforts on June 30 at Delaware Valley University at 700 East Butler Avenue in Doylestown. It is at the event that volunteer food packers will pass the milestone of preparing half a million meals for families in need.
The BKO Hunger effort seeks to eliminate hunger and food insecurity and increase access to nutritious foods for low-income children, families, and seniors. It is a collaborative effort, bringing together businesses, non-profits, community members, and local farmers to provide a range of healthy options to those in need.
The group has noted that both hunger and food insecurity are significant problems throughout the county with about 1 in 10 Bucks County residents and 16% of all children being effected. Food pantries, which are essential lifelines to assist low-income families in need, are frequently unable to stock healthy foods like fresh produce or dairy products. Donations to pantries from the community are mostly canned and dry foods, which generally have less nutritional value than fresh foods.
Since its inception in 2013, BKO Hunger has provided over 60 tons (more than 480,000 servings) of fresh local fruit and vegetables. The event has also supplied over 100,000 healthy, shelf-stable, “just add water” meals each year.
This year, BKO Hunger has set a goal of raising $75,000, which is about 7% more than its 2016 goal. The increase centers around the projects effort to get dairy products like milk and cheese to needy families with young children. In addition to 100,000 meals, which will be distributed to Bucks County Opportunity Council’s network of 27 food pantries and 6 senior centers, funds raised will also support both Delaware Valley University’s Hope of the Harvest Charitable Garden and Rolling Harvest Food Rescue’s efforts to provide fresh, local produce to pantries.
“The only thing that makes Bucks Knocks Out Hunger possible are donations from the public,” says Tim Philpot, BKO project manager. “Without the generosity of individuals in Bucks County, this project would not be able to provide so much support to struggling families.”
Philpot noted that more than 50 percent of the funds raised come from people in Bucks County who want to make a difference.
In addition to raising funds, BKO Hunger offers volunteer opportunities. From packing meals to preparing the fields to taking photographs, there are many ways to get involved at the community event on Friday, June 30th. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, click here.
“BKO Hunger is a great example of what happens when we collaborate. When we can bring our community together – individuals, businesses, nonprofits, groups, churches – anyone who is willing and able to help, we can accomplish so much,” explains Marissa Christie, President and CEO of United Way of Bucks County. “As a parent, knowing how many kids get milk and cheese and fresh produce through BKO Hunger means a lot to me, too,” she says.
Gifts of all sizes make a difference. Donations can be made online here, dropped off at any Penn Community Bank, or mailed to the UW Bucks office (413 Hood Blvd, Fairless Hills, PA 19030) with the subject line “BKO Hunger”.
