Rent, electricity, gas, medicine, or food – which could you live without?
This is the question facing many of the households who come to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington each day for help.
More than 2,100 families receive food during the year from the safety net provided by Catholic Charities Food Assistance program. They are our neighbors, coworkers, relatives.
February is “Stock the Pantry” month for Catholic Charities, and once again, the organization asks the community to step up to make life easier for the households who depend on Catholic Charities for food. Can you help us to provide food to the families who depend on us to stretch their monthly food budget? Catholic Charities accepts donations of nonperishable food, cleaning products, personal hygiene items, diapers of all sizes, grocery store gift cards, or cash donations at all its locations during regular business hours.
Catholic Charities
“No family should go hungry,” said Richelle Vible, Catholic Charities’ executive director. “The uncertainty of whether some federal supports, such as SNAP benefits, will soon expire because of the partial government shutdown puts a real strain on low-income households. Membership in our food programs continues to climb. Compounding that strain is the diminished inventory of food we usually receive through donations. Our neighbors need our support.”
Catholic Charities coordinates food cooperative programs at its Thrift Center in Wilmington, Casa San Francisco in Milton and Seton Center in Princess Anne, Maryland. Area residents can apply for membership in the food cooperatives by making an appointment with a Basic Needs case manager. In New Castle County, call 302-655-9624, 4-1184, in Kent County, call 302-674-1600, in Sussex County, call 302-856-9578, and in Somerset County, Maryland, call 410-651-9608.
Casa San Francisco and Seton Center also operate emergency food pantries for those in crisis. Call for pantry hours. Those in need must bring a photo identification card and information about the household income.
In addition to nonperishable food and grocery store gift cards, Catholic Charities will also accept monetary donations in order to purchase additional food to fill bags for the food distribution programs. To make an online monetary donation, visit Catholic Charities’ secure donation site, www.ccwilm.org/donate.
Catholic Charities accepts donations at its locations Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Drop off food donations at:
Main Office
2601 W 4th Street
Wilmington, DE 19805
302-655-9624
Bayard House*
300 Bayard Avenue
Wilmington, DE 19805
302-654-1184
Marydale Retirement Village
135 Jeandell Drive
Newark, DE 19713
302-368-2784
Kent County Office
2099 S DuPont Highway
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 674-1600
Sussex County Office
406 S Bedford Street, Ste 9
Georgetown, DE 19947
302-856-9578
Casa San Francisco*
127 Broad Street
Milton DE 19968
302-684-8694
Seton Center
30632 Hampden Avenue
Princess Ann, MD 21853
410-651-9608
Suggested items for donation include nonperishable and shelf stable items. Catholic Charities needs the following items:
- canned goods like tuna, chicken, beef stew, corned beef hash, beans, soups, vegetables, fruit, and spaghetti
- boxes of pasta, macaroni and cheese, crackers, cereal, oatmeal, and pancake mix
- jars of peanut butter and jelly
- juice, coffee, tea, hot cocoa mix, instant breakfasts
- shelf-stable milk – either powdered or evaporated
- baby food and cereal
- condiments like spreads, ketchup, mustard, relish, barbecue sauce, pickles and syrup
Catholic Charities, the charitable arm of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, has been serving those in need for more than 189 years, offering a wide range of services to strengthen families, care for children, assist the disadvantaged, and build human relationships throughout Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
*Casa San Francisco and Bayard House can accept donations 7 days a week. Please call ahead before making a donation.
