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DRBC Cares for Its Communities: Staff Return to Mercer Street Friends Food Bank

While the main efforts of DRBC staff are centered around managing and protecting the shared interstate waters of the Delaware River Basin, they also care about helping out in our local communities. Nine DRBC staff recently volunteered at the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank in Ewing Township, N.J., helping sort and prepare donations of fresh produce for distribution to hunger reliefs programs all throughout Mercer County, N.J.  In addition to preparing bulk donations, staff also created nearly 1,000 food package bags for kids. 

The Mercer Street Friends Food Bank is the leader of the community's response to hunger, offering prevention programs and annually distributing over 2.5 million pounds of privately- and government-donated food to a network of 60 shelters, soup kitchens, and food pantries. In addition to running the food bank, Mercer Street Friends also offers a free preschool and many programs for youth, adults, and parents.

This was the third consecutive year DRBC staff have volunteered their time at the food bank. Staff enjoyed and appreciated the experience, learning about the invaluable work of Mercer Street Friends and how it is an essential partner in the community, dedicated to helping impoverished and at-risk families and individuals. During the holiday season and all throughout the year, DRBC staff are proud to do their part to help those in need.  

 

(From L to R) DRBC's Elaine Panuccio, Gail Blum (green coat), Elba Deck (red coat), and Kendria Henson create food package bags for hungry kids. In all, nearly 1,000 bags were made during this volunteer effort! Photo by DRBC.(From L to R) DRBC's Karen Reavy, Li Zheng, and Hernan Quinodoz prepare bulk donations of fresh potatos and celery packages for local food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens in Mercer Street Friends' network. It was tough to get a still shot of Li and Hernan - always in action! Photo by DRBC. DRBC staff are all smiles as they create food package bags for hungry kids. In all, nearly 1,000 bags were made during this volunteer effort! Photo by DRBC.After a successful volunteer event, DRBC staff pose for a photo with a Mercer Street Friends' staffer, each holding one of the food bags they made for kids. Photo by DRBC.