On its way to the Cluster, thanks to Wegman's

POTTSTOWN PA – Wegman’s Food Markets, which operates a store in Collegeville and will soon open one in King of Prussia, is making a contribution this morning (Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012) that is likely to help hundreds of hungry families who rely on the free food pantry at the outreach center of the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities, 57 N. Franklin St.

A Wegman’s driver is scheduled to pilot a 50-foot-long tractor trailer filled with the supermarket chain’s donated food into the outreach center’s receiving docks at 10 a.m., according to the Cluster.

Philabundance, a non-pofit organization that distributes food to pantries for the needy across the greater Philadelphia area, is experiencing a temporary shortage which would have threatened this month’s Cluster delivery. Wegman’s, which is represented on the Cluster board, volunteered to step in and fill the gap.

It’s not the first time, either. Back in September 2009, only three weeks before the chain opened its Collegeville store, it dropped 17,000 pounds of food at the Cluster’s doors. That load included 20 pallets of canned goods, cereals, snacks, assorted beverages, condiments and baking mixes and ingredients.

At a time when local families’ needs are increasing and available resources are declining, said Cluster Executive Director Barbara Wilhelmy, both donations and the personal assistance of volunteers are greatly appreciated. Although financial support is always welcomed, donors can also deliver supplies to the outreach center themselves. Its most current (Jan. 13) wish list of needs for the food pantry and elsewhere can be found here.

Photo from GoogleImages