ALLENTOWN, Pa. — About 400 families lined up, some for hours, outside The Salvation Army in Allentown on Wednesday.
In an arrangement with Americold, Feed the Children and The Salvation Army, a wealth of shelf-stable food, personal care essentials and additional items were passed out to individuals and families in need.
Hundreds lined the building, some as early as 5 a.m., while vehicles waited to drive through The Salvation Army's lot to pick up their food and essentials.
Turnout for the event doubled what was seen just last month, and organizers and recipients alike anticipate even more need in the near future with the cutoff of SNAP and WIC benefits starting in November.
"What we're trying to do here is just alleviate some of the immediate needs that families have, so they’ll have enough food to put on their table for the next week."Feed the Children Senior Director for Corporate Sponsorships Joe Allegro
Feed the Children Senior Director for Corporate Sponsorships Joe Allegro said 400 families were scheduled to visit between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
“We're going to be providing them with $150,000 worth of food, essentials, personal care items," Allegro said. "We got some plush toys for the kids.
“It's a beautiful day. What we're trying to do here is just alleviate some of the immediate needs that families have, so they’ll have enough food to put on their table for the next week.
"We know what with SNAP benefits all up in the air right now, this is going to be a big help for them.”
Allegro said he knew families would be strapped for cash this time of year, “so it's great to have Americold and Feed the Children working together and then locally with the Salvation Army to help the families.”
'More challenged than they've ever been'
Americold Chief Executive Officer Rob Chambers and Allentown General Manager Bob Mason said their organization has worked alongside Feed the Children for more than a decade in a mission to feed the world.
“And so it's a natural partnership with Feed the Children," Chambers said. "We have a big presence here locally, in Allentown.
"And so the local Salvation Army also has been very gracious to invite us down here and be able to give food to all these great families."
Mason said Americold has worked in Allentown for quite a while to help with veteran organizations, general needs such as food pantries, and other community-based efforts.
And the need for such services only appears to be growing, he said.
"What we've seen over the last few years is a tremendous amount of inflation in day-to-day items that are so necessary for everybody,” Mason said.
“So we're really seeing folks that are having their budget stretched, and they're more challenged than they've ever been.
"The opportunity to be here today to just help in a small way is incredibly meaningful to us, and hopefully very meaningful to the community.”
Both men encouraged people in Allentown who are in a spot where they can lend a hand to reach out to The Salvation Army and Feed the Children to help keep those support networks alive.
“The need will increase. Also, our need as an organization, to have enough funds and enough in-kind goods to distribute, it increases as well."Salvation Army Allentown Citadel Corps Officer Maj. Ismael Correa
Salvation Army Allentown Citadel Corps Officer Maj. Ismael Correa said the turnout for the day was substantial.
He said he felt things may get more dire, but organizations such as his would continue to help as much as possible.
“The need will increase," Correa said. "Also, our need as an organization, to have enough funds and enough in-kind goods to distribute, it increases as well.
“We've been reaching out to our local food bank, and it seems like everybody's struggling. Everybody is calculating how they're going to face this challenge in this period in life right now.
"As long as we have the resources, we'll continue helping the community out.”
'The core of what we do'
Just before distribution began Wednesday, representatives from partners and other local agencies spoke on the need and the extraordinary response from the community to fill that need.
“At the Chamber, we believe that a thriving community begins with meeting people where they are, supporting families and investing in education," Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President of Allentown Initiatives Brittney Ciardi said.
“Everyone in here are lighthouses. You are anchors harboring the harbor."Allentown School District Superintendent Carol Birks
"Helping every child and adult feel seen, supported and valued is at the core of what we do.
“Initiatives like today's bring that mission to life and in the most tangible way by feeding them. To the families who are here today: You are the heart of this city.
“And to the partners, volunteers and everyone who helped make this today possible: Thank you for living in the example of what it means to care for one another.”
Allentown School District Superintendent Carol Birks pointed out that homelessness in the Lehigh Valley is rising, and food banks have become overwhelmed.
Across the commonwealth, Birks said, more than 46,000 children and youth are without stable housing.
“These children are twice as likely to drop out of school, not graduate, and face health and unemployment and other instability throughout their lives,” Birks said.
“Food insecurity affects nearly 1 in 6 children. Just think: I have the pleasure of serving 16,700 children, but 1 in 6 children nationwide? It's hard to focus on math when your stomach is empty.
"Yeah, it's hard to big dream big when you're just trying to survive.”
Birks said about 10,000 of her students are reliant upon SNAP and other assistance to get by.
Advocating for continued partnership between nonprofits, schools, and other entities, Birks told those in attendance, “We can collectively continue to light the way where so many people see darkness.
“Everyone in here are lighthouses. You are anchors harboring the harbor. When many of these families think about this, all those people you saw on that sidewalk, they are happy that you are restoring some hope and some pride in their lives.
"Today, again, I thank you. I thank you for being a part of this tremendous promise to our community. Thank you. I appreciate all of you."
'Every little bit helps'
Shielda Buffalo said she showed up at The Salvation Army at 10 a.m., 3 1/2 hours before distribution began, and the line already had wrapped around the building.
“I mean, that's really bad, because we have families that have children that need the food stamps," Buffalo said.
"Even though you might be taking it from the single individuals, you shouldn't take it from the families and the old people."
Buffalo said she has relied on food banks for a while now, and she anticipates more and more families will require that assistance with the pause on benefits coming in just a few days.
And, she said, it would only get worse around the holidays, making matters difficult for families with children in particular.
“That’s all the people that are getting something to eat because they know they're not getting food stamps Saturday,” Buffalo said.
“So people are trying to get to all the food banks they can so they can have food for their Thanksgiving dinner.”
Buffalo said she had seen a few conflicts in the line, especially as it began to stretch from the early morning hours to the brink of the giveaway.
"It is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.”Ramona Rivera
She said it was just another indication of how desperate families had become as of late.
Ramona Rivera, who came out to the event with her 2-year-old daughter Camilia, said she was greatly appreciative of the assistance.
“This is amazing — aside from the craziness of the line and waiting, but it’s worth it,” Rivera said.
“My family needs it, especially with everything going on. Every little bit helps.”
Rivera said without such assistance efforts, she would not be able to afford to provide everything her family requires to get by — a fate shared by many others waiting in line.
“It just shows a lot of people setting their pride and ego aside and asking for help when they need to, because now they really can’t afford it," Rivera said.
"It is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.”
And as for the opportunity to get a little toy for her daughter?
“It’s beautiful,” Rivera said, looking at Camilia holding a Squishmallow.
“The kids love it. This is something that gives them a little bit of brightness when everything else is going on and you’re struggling.”
