Results:
2018 Highlights (July 2017 through May 2018) • Approximately 160 volunteers, no paid staff • Average households served: 560 (clients come to the cupboard an average of six times a year) • Food distributed: we are on target to distribute 1.1 MILLION pounds of food by the end of June. • We have increased the quantity as well as quality by purchasing items such as boneless chicken breasts, frozen fish, dairy, spices and produce. • In 2018 we will supply clients with approximately two weeks of food support during the month. In comparison, in 2013, we supplied about 3 days of food support during the month. • Food purchases: food and personal care item purchases increased from $155,000 in 2013 to $450,000 in 2018. • Food donations: have increased by 35% thanks to the support of the community. In 2018 we expect donated food to be around 640,000 pounds.

Target demographics:
As the largest hunger-relief agency serving the West Chester PA area, we are the primary source of food assistance for children, adults and the elderly who suffer from food insecurity.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 2,498 individuals (1,328 adults, 262 over the age of 60 and 908 children).

Geographic areas served: West Chester PA

Programs:
The west chester food cupboard is the largest hunger relief agency in chester county. We are the primary source of food assistance for low- income residents living in the west chester area school district. We provide food and basic personal care items free of charge to households whose income falls at 150% of or below the federal poverty level. West chester food cupboard is a 100% volunteer-run organization with no paid staff.

Make a Financial Donation

The Food cupboard appreciates all the support we receive from the community, but your financial donations allow us to purchase exactly what we need, and also use the purchasing power of bulk buying and sales.

https://westchesterfoodcupboard.org/donate-2/


Make A Food Donation

The Food Cupboard accepts unexpired, nonperishable food as wells as personal care items, paper products, household cleaning products, pet food, and fresh produce.

https://westchesterfoodcupboard.org/make-a-food-donation/


Donate Your Time and Talent

Join our 100% volunteer team. If you are over 18 and can commit to a regular schedule, please contact us at wcfood@gmail.com. Sorry, we cannot provide community service opportunities.

Volunteer

 “I have been a volunteer at WCFC since 2014. I feel very fortunate to be a part of an organization whose mission is so vitally important to so many food-insecure households in our community.

    Because clients can choose what they need and will use, instead of receiving a one-size-fits-all package, the Cupboard is a very efficient mechanism for providing food assistance that really makes an impact in the clients’ lives.”

    “About 6 years ago I decided I wanted to become involved volunteering somewhere on my day off. I saw a post in our local paper the West Chester Food Cupboard was looking for volunteers. I signed up and I am so glad I did!

    Many of us on Wednesdays have been together for years and I consider them my friends. I look forward to working with them and getting to know our clients.”


Clients

“Great friendly people! Everyone is always so helpful and they always try to converse and interact with everyone.”

“I want you to know that you guys are the best! Thanks for your professionalism and attentiveness. The food I got yesterday would have cost well over $300 at the grocery store.”

 “I decided to take the time and thank you all for caring that my family has enough food throughout the year. And best of all, the gift of giving not just at Christmas but all year. And I thank God for all of you who have created a comfort for those of us who really need extra help to put food on our tables.”

Donors

“Why do we donate money to the WCFC? Because it is one of the best run nonprofit food providers to the needy in Chester County! The staff is knowledgeable, engaging, and show a deep empathy and compassion for their clients.

    Hunger is often invisible – the WCFC serves as a great beacon of help.

    “I have been associated with several non-profits but I can honestly say that I am totally impressed with the all volunteer organization. All money collected goes to supporting our clients. Not a penny is spent on salaries.

      I am humbled to be a member of this organization which is trying to make a difference one meal and one client at a time.”

Our Mission
The West Chester Food Cupboard commits to provide a variety of fresh and nonperishable healthy food items to West Chester residents in need…because no one should go hungry!

Our Story
Our Original Gay Street Location
The West Chester Food Cupboard was born in 2009 when the old food cupboard, run for many years by Chester County Cares, closed. Dismayed volunteers banded together and decided to step up to the challenge and run a new food cupboard themselves and so the adventure began. In 2012 they had been sufficiently successful to form their own non-profit 501©(3) organization.

The number of volunteers increased as did donations as the community responded generously to the needs of low-income West Chester residents, who were struggling to feed themselves and their families.

In the summer of 2017, having definitely outgrown our old premises on E. Gay Street, the volunteers decided to move. We were lucky enough to find 431 S. Bolmar Street – a great location with twice the space, and a wonderfully welcoming place for clients to shop.

The Cupboard is still 100% volunteer run with no paid staff. Currently there is a seven-person Board of Directors, a Lead Volunteer Team of fourteen, and over 150 volunteers, who willingly carry out a myriad of tasks.

The mission of the Cupboard has stayed the same, providing a variety of fresh and nonperishable food to West Chester residents in need and can be summed up by the slogan on everyone’s t-shirts.

We are a non-profit, equal opportunity organization. All are
welcome!

Your support means a lot to the 180 volunteers who cheerfully devote over 1,800 hours a month, carrying out a myriad of tasks with no pay.