Strategic & Inclusive
Our Purchase Power, Greater Variety and Access
Through bulk distribution, we ensure that community organizations have a variety of fresh produce, milk, eggs, and healthy non-perishable foods such as pasta, rice, beans, and canned goods. We aim to provide optimal proportions of fresh and non-perishable foods, focusing more heavily on fresh foods as these are harder for pantry members to access in their communities. We are proud that 50% of the food we distribute is fresh and approximately 77% of the produce we distribute during peak growing season is Pennsylvania grown!
Sourcing Food
Using money from grants, donations, and virtual food drives, the Chester County Food Bank purchases fresh and non-perishable food inventory. Through a network of wholesalers, farmers, and the food industry, we seek out the highest quality food products at the most cost-effective price. Our food purchasing complements the results obtained through food and fund drives as well as government funding which is then distributed to our community agency network.
We extend our purchasing power to obtain fresh food at auction and from local farms. From late June through November we go to farmers’ produce auctions which enables us to buy bulk quantity of local vegetables and fruits at wholesale prices. With our high volume purchasing, we will average a cost of 25 cents per pound at auction.
Ways to Help
Host a Food Drive
Anytime is a great time to host a food drive! Food drives are a great hands-on way to help us stock pantry shelves! Get started with your food drive by registering your event and then reviewing our food drive toolkit. Consider adding an online fund drive to maximize your impact.
Host a Virtual Food Drive / Online Fundraiser
Forget the heavy lifting and set up a virtual food drive / online fundraiser in a few easy clicks. Monetary contributions make the biggest impact, thanks to our bulk purchasing power. Our online giving platform makes it easy to virtually gather your group to contribute to a larger goal.
Help us Distribute Healthy Food
Our distribution programs bring nutritious meals to those who need them most. You can make it more possible through your donation. You can help by giving your support today! Make an impact all year by joining our community of monthly donors, Beyond Hunger 365.