Community Corner

Jesus Focus Food Pantry Fills a Need for Body and Soul

Despite state-support being cut this year, the food pantry serves 1,700 every month, and the need is growing.

There are no poor people that walk through the doors of Jesus Focus Food Pantry, Mary Dougherty, director of the Upper Southampton-based ministry, said.

There are only people in need.

“If you’re driving down the street and if you see a “For-Sale” sign, that’s a family in need,” Doughtery said. “We turn away no one.”

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Doughtery, who has been with the pantry since its inception in 1988, said that the Food Pantry originally served 12 people in Upper Southampton.

“Twenty-five years later, we serve 1,700 people per month,” Doughtery said.

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According to Mike Greene, who manages public relations for the food pantry, clients may come in throughout the week to receive non-perishable food. Most of the clients come from within Upper Southampton, as well as the surrounding communities, and register with the pantry, providing certain biographical information.

“It takes guts to walk into a food pantry,” Greene said.

Such information helps the pantry keep track of food going out, and determine how much more food is needed to keep their shelves stocked. Such data also enables the pantry to receive federal and state aid.

The Need Is Great 

Despite the record keeping, Dougherty said the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture pulled its funding for such food-assist programs throughout the sate at the beginning of January.

This year, she said the pantry must use funds out of its budget so that regular food donations may continue to be supplemented. According to Dougherty, $3,000 worth of food, such as with a recent purchase from Karetas Foods of Reading, will only last a week.

According to the pantry’s distribution guidelines, the suggested distribution for a single take-away bag is:

  • 1box of cereal
  • 1 box of biscuit/muffin/pancake mix
  • 3 cans/packages of meat/poultry/fish
  • 3 cans of fruit
  • 3 cans of vegetables
  • 1 package of spaghetti/macaroni/rice
  • 1 package/can potatoes
  • 1 can juice
  • 2 cans soup
  • 1 can/jar of tomato sauce

The guidelines also state that quantities are adjusted according to the number of family members, although quantities given typically feed a family of five.

Volunteers then sort the food into grocery-style bags for takeaway.
On a recent visit, some of the families had their little children in tow, as they entered the double doors of the pantry. Upon being greeted by a friendly volunteer at the door and seeing the awaiting grocery bags, it seemed they couldn't help but to smile.

“Some are mortified or embarrassed if it’s their first time, but we make them feel that they are still worthy and it’s not their fault.” Debbie Freisheim, a Jenkintown resident and four-year Food Pantry volunteer, explained. “I hate to see someone go without having a meal. You have to feed their souls, but you can’t feed their souls if they don’t feed their bodies.”

Freisheim, who is one of at least 43 volunteers at the Pantry, comes on her own as a volunteer. However, there are also groups of volunteers that sign up, including corporate volunteers, such as General Electric in Trevose; or Boy Scouts from St. Vincent De Paul Church in Northampton and St. Bede Church in Southampton, as well as Girl Scouts at Our Lady of Good Counsel, also in Southampton.

Always Accepting Donations and New Farmers Market

According to Doughtery, there are at least 10 – 15 churches and businesses in the area that consistently donate food to the pantry. However, she emphasizes the need for more donations, as stores of food can not keep up with demand.

As the pantry must now also purchase food, she said that monetary donations are also accepted, as was the recent case where the Ancient Order of Hibernians held a matching fundraiser that produced a $6,000 donation.

However, Dougherty said the Pantry must come up with creative ways to continue its ministry and service.

This summer, starting in June, which has been designated as "National Hunger Awareness" month, every third Thursday, Jesus Focus Ministry Food Pantry will provide a fresh-produce Farmers Market to all its clients, in partnership with Rolling Harvest Food Rescue, located in Lumberville. Doughterty also said that donated fresh meat may also be available soon as the pantry works out details with an Allentown-based company.

In addition to food distribution, the food panrty offers in-house counselors, who provide guidance and advice on social services. And, as part of a religious ministry, the Food Pantry always offers an opportunity for fellowship and prayer.

“It’s really a community of caring,” Dougherty said.

The Food Pantry at Jesus Focus Minstry is located 1150 bristol Road in Churchville. For more information, visit the Jesus Focus Ministry website or call 215-953-2000.


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