KACS now accepting food donations

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Britton Elwood, KACS COVID19 Response Coordinator, accepts donations trunk-side.

"We are accepting donations at the Kennett Area YMCA," said Leah Reynolds, Executive Director of Kennett Area Community Services. The Kennett Y, which has been closed down as a non-essential business, is open to allow KACS employees to accept and sanitize food donations in their gym. "We meet our donors at their cars so we can maintain social distancing guidelines."

The food bank is facing challenging times. Their two main sources of food have dried up – the Chester County Food Bank is unable to make any further donations to KACS in April and grocery stores no longer have the extra stock to donate. In addition, due to the small size of the food cupboard building, KACS had to halt accepting donations from the community.

Until today.

Food is sorted and sanitized at the Kennett Area YMCA.

Donations of shelf-stable items are being accepted at the Kennett Y on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations should be placed in the trunk to decrease any chance of passing on the COVID-19 virus. Their top 10 list includes rice, pasta, peanut butter and jelly or jam as well as canned fruit, canned vegetable and canned fish.

"We have 550 low-income families who couldn't stock up," said Reynolds, "and they have 900 children."

In addition, 75 new families have turned to KACS for help with food. In adherence with social distancing guidelines, families are only allowed into the offices one at a time to be qualified for the program. Food is pre-packed in cartons by family size and delivered outside.

"We had an 85 percent increase in requests for emergency assistance," said Leah Reynolds, Executive Director of Kennett Area Community Services (KACS). Stories of need are varied and include people who are out of work and without shelter.  "An elderly man kicked out his daughter and her boyfriend over fear of being exposed to COVID-19."

Kennett Area Community Services supports area residents with emergency funds and food boxes. For more information or to donate online, please go to Kennett Area Community Service.

About Karen Myers

Karen Myers lives in Pocopson Township and has written for several local publications. A strong supporter of our community, Karen has served on several non-profit boards, such as Pocopson Elementary PTO, The United Way of Southern Chester County, Chester County Art Association and Tick Tock Early Learning Center. She received her M.B.A. from the University of Delaware and worked in marketing and operations with a focus on banking.

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