POTTSTOWN PA – The Pottstown Post is one of dozens of local news media and blog sites that will, from today (Monday, Feb. 27, 2012) through April 7, humbly beg for its readers’ help in doing something necessary, important, and frankly, difficult: feeding a family other than their own.
All editions of The Post (including Sanatoga, Limerick, Main Street, Travels and Photos) and many other sites that are part of the TownSquare community media lab operated by The (Pottstown PA) Mercury newspaper today are launching an effort to collect 20,000 food items that will be distributed among non-profit pantries in Pottstown, North Coventry, Boyertown, the Upper Perkiomen Valley, Royersford, Spring City, Phoenixville, and Collegeville.
The group hopes to reach its goal – or better still, surpass it! – by the start of Passover (April 7) and the adjoining Easter holiday (April 8).
- Read a story by reporter Brandie Kessler, titled “Join our challenge to ‘fill the Media Lab’ and help local food pantries” and published Monday by The Mercury, here.
The area’s economic woes of recent years – job layoffs, employer down-sizings, wage freezes, reduced work hours, home foreclosures – all have forced many families, those with and without children, into a tight financial squeeze. As The Mercury reported two weeks ago, in an article titled “Philabundance ‘spreading the love’ with peanut butter drive,” more people than ever are seeking help from food shelters and pantries just to get by.
So here’s The Post’s pitch:
- We’re asking readers to buy food items during upcoming grocery store visits, and set them aside for the media lab campaign.
- When you’ve got the time, between now and April 7, drop items off at The Mercury, Hanover and King Streets, Pottstown PA, or other sites as they are identified (we’ll regularly publish the list); OR
- If you’ve collected a dozen or more items, bag or box them and call Post Managing Editor Joe Zlomek at 610-970-1492. Leave your name, address, and phone number, and a message to let him know how many items are ready. Zlomek will make arrangements to have the donated items picked up.
The Posts thank you in advance for your time, energy, support, and most of all, for your care for others less fortunate.
Photo from NinjaPoodles via Flickr and SodaHead
