By: Sophie Kluthe  

COVID-19 and its reverberations have hit Southeastern Pennsylvania especially hard. For vulnerable families, job insecurity and food insecurity loom large, and the prospect of hunger is a real concern. To ensure that no family goes hungry this summer, the American Red Cross is partnering with community groups to put help food on the tables of folks who are navigating difficult times.   

Over the past several weeks, Red Cross volunteers have assisted ACLAMO Family Centers, a Norristown nonprofit, with its weekly food distribution. ACLAMO (Accion Comunal Latinoamericana de Montgomery County) allocates hundreds of meals each week, and the volunteers help set up, pack, and distribute bags and boxes full of food for participating families. 

 

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In Chester County, Red Cross volunteers put on their logistics caps and rolled up their sleeves to move 20,000 pounds of food to local organizations for distribution—all in one day.   

Barbara Schlenger-Faber was one of those team members. The mission involved plenty of planning—and then plenty of muscle was needed to move pallets of food from a warehouse into trucks and vehicles for further distribution. 

“I really enjoy the physical work,” Schlenger-Faber said. “I had a career that was pretty much in front of the computer. I like just getting into it.”

She echoes a common Red Crosser sentiment, “The idea that we’re doing things locally feels good. I know there’s so many people in need, and one of the things I find gratifying about the Red Cross is the chance to give back.”

  

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None of that work would have been possible without volunteers like Schlenger-Faber and the dozens of others who’ve donated their skills and time at these events week after week. 

“As we all navigate through an ever-changing environment, food sustainability has become an increasing concern, particularly for school age children. We are so thankful for the Chester County Food Bank and ACLAMO for their work in supporting local families, and we’ve been inspired by their commitment. Our alignment brought our missions together in a new way, mobilizing our volunteers to support a bigger purpose,” said Jennifer Graham, executive director of the Red Cross’s Delaware Valley chapter, which encompasses Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.   

“Our volunteers are the backbone of the work we do,” Graham said. “I am constantly amazed at their strength, perseverance, and commitment to the communities we serve. Whether it’s a large-scale disaster or a local need, they always answer the call—and through their volunteer service, particularly on these missions, they’ve provided not only physical but also emotional support with their camaraderie, smiles, and enthusiasm for lending a hand when and where it’s needed most.” 

For more on how the Red Cross is supporting families impacted by COVID-19, visit https://www.redcross.org/virtual-family-assistance-center.html.