Skip to the content
h /  

Blog

h /  

We’re Always Prepared for Emergency Response

It always pays to be prepared for emergencies—a first-aid kit in a backpack, a spare tire in the trunk of your car and a fire extinguisher in the kitchen are simple, everyday examples of how we can keep ahead of troubling situations that can crop up unexpectedly.

While the Chester County Food Bank is known for continuously striving to bring food insecurity for our communities to a minimum, we are also instrumental in maintaining a state of preparedness for catastrophic events within our county in collaboration with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

Blizzards, ice storms, severe thunderstorms, flooding, and other emergencies where power may be lost for any length of time require the Food Bank to ramp up within six hours of being notified.

Our emergency response planning is committed to providing 1,000 neighbors with hot meals, snacks and water, which are picked up by the American Red Cross as needed. The emergency meals are prepared in advance by our staff and volunteers and kept frozen at our facility. Per industry common practice, if they are not needed for emergency response, then they are distributed to one of our partner meal sites as part of our Sunshine Meals.

We believe preparedness is not just a word; it’s a promise. A promise to our community that we are rooted in community, to ensure access to food. It’s about proactive planning, about empowering our communities to weather any storm.

Want to learn more? Sign up for our newsletter and stay connected. You can also donate food, funds and time to help us achieve our mission. Call (610) 873-6000 to speak to someone about getting involved. Thanks to you, we’re growing a healthier community.

The Chester County Food Bank is the central hunger relief organization serving more than 160 food cupboards, meal sites and social service organizations throughout Chester County. We take a steadfast approach to provide food and build support in the neediest communities, while raising awareness and engagement among our community.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in February 2017 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.