Ardmore/Narberth Food Bank

During the holiday season when presents and gifts are so ingrained in our traditions, we rarely think about the many things we are so fortunate to have already, like a food-covered table at dinnertime. The Harriton Banner spoke with Gigi Tevlin-Moffat, the founder and director of the Narberth Food Bank to learn more about hunger and how it affects our area.

Every month, the Narberth food bank serves between 270 and 320 people, 73% of which are employed. Ms. Tevlin-Moffat explains this high percentage of working adults who still need help with providing themselves with enough food is due to the low paying jobs, or income inequality, which is a significant problem across our whole nation. In our region, Montgomery county, we have a growing population of individuals who need food, and as a result, there are more food banks in our county than ever before.

Ms. Tevlin-Moffat described how hunger goes beyond the uncomfortable feeling throughout the body physically, and can have mental effects. Especially in children and adolescents, hunger can result in poor behavior and school performance or perceived learning/attention issues.

Narberth Food Bank attempts to ameliorate all these issues, as it tries to eliminate the hunger in our region. The food bank is open every Tuesday for those who need it and every Monday for donations. In addition to pantry staples like pasta and cereal, the Narberth Food Bank values the important nutrition of produce and, impressively, every week makes seasonal options available as well. As it is December, the Banner asked Ms. Tevlin-Moffat what the food bank does for the holidays. However, we were surprised by their creative and far more effective alternative to a big holiday dinner. Rather than have one dinner for the holiday season, the Narberth Food Bank gives kids a “Break Box,” since the kids are on break and miss the two meals that they normally would be provided with at school. This sustains them (vegetables included!) throughout the holiday break until they come back to school.

However, the Narberth Food Bank has guests all year round, not just over the holidays, and therefore, also requires donations! Ms. Tevlin-Moffat said their most welcomed items are cereal, oatmeal, soups with meat, produce, and not pasta, but spaghetti sauce! Surprisingly, this last item is one of the most needed donations and Ms. Tevlin-Moffat explains why: “Everyone donates pasta but no spaghetti sauce!” And who wants their pasta without sauce?

When asked whether there was anything she would like high school students to know, Ms. Tevlin-Moffat encourages them to be active members in their communities. She knows from her experience of founding the food bank that at some point, the community will need someone to take action. She admits that it will require leadership and hard work to achieve it, and it can be hard and frightening at times. “It takes everything you’ve got!” she explains, but the results of your efforts will be well worth any amount of blood, sweat, or tears. But she is also aware of the excellence of the schools in this district and knows the graduates or current students are well up to the task.

So this holiday season, rather than thinking about what you want, try thinking about what someone else, or the community, might need instead.

 

Many thanks to Ms. Tevlin-Moffat for the information about the region and all that the Narberth Food Bank accomplishes!