By Amanda Fennell, Editor-in-Chief

As I learned in my grant writing class this semester, there are scores of nonprofits in Chester County alone, so some can be considered hidden gems. One remarkable nonprofit is West Chester Food Cupboard (WCFC), located only seven miles from Immaculata’s campus. 

According to WCFC’s website, for over 15 years, the cupboard has “provid[ed] a variety of healthy food items to people in need in [the West Chester] community…because no one should go hungry.” The food pantry lives out this mission through its two features: the West Chester Food Cupboard and the Food Cupboard Express. Once per month, those who are eligible and living in the West Chester School District can get groceries from the food cupboard that will last around two weeks. Personal care items that cannot be accessed through SNAP benefits are also available. The express pantry, which was added in October 2022, does not have any restrictions on who can shop and how often, and those utilizing the service can get about two bags of food.

Section of the Food Express Pantry. Image sourced from Amanda Fennell.

WCFC stands out from other food pantries as it is the biggest in the county, annually providing food for more than 6,000 individuals. Each week, the food express alone gets around 460 visits. 

Another noteworthy quality of WCFC is that it is solely composed of volunteers. When I had the pleasure of speaking with Rob Necarsulmer, president of WCFC’s board of directors, I learned that the food pantry has roughly 300 consistent volunteers who meet a wide variety of needs. By concentrating on funds for programs rather than salaries, WCFC encourages members of the community to support the nonprofit. As Necarsulmer acknowledged, “Our donors really like it because if they give us a hundred dollars, they know that it’s all going to buying food for the people who really need it.” 

An additional section of the Food Express Pantry. Image sourced from Amanda Fennell.

Moreover, this volunteer-based environment says something about the volunteers themselves and the overall culture of WCFC. Necarsulmer commented that “everybody’s here because they want to be here. It’s not a job that we’re dragging ourselves into. It’s something that we think is important and that we like doing, and hopefully that comes across in the way that we treat our neighbors that shop here, as well as each other.” 

As someone who has volunteered at WCFC a few times and has interacted with the formal volunteers, I can confirm that this willingness to help comes across in the welcoming and positive spirit of everyone involved in running the cupboard.

Produce refrigerators inside WCFC. Image sourced from Amanda Fennell.

With a mission that is clear and admirable and a culture that is positive and dedicated, West Chester Food Cupboard is a wonderful nonprofit, well-deserving of the generous support it receives from donors. As the many volunteers would testify, there is no better way to see what WCFC is all about than to visit it for yourself. Even in small ways, such as volunteering for a few hours or donating produce from your garden, you can make a difference! 

Source:

West Chester Food Cupboard. (n.d.). https://westchesterfoodcupboard.org/