NORRISTOWN, November 23, 2009 – State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Delaware/ Montgomery) recognized the plight of hunger and homelessness last weekend by visiting a local soup kitchen to donate his time and services, as well as all of the eggs and sausages needed for the breakfast.
Leach joined other volunteers at St. John's Soup Kitchen in Norristown, where they prepared and served food to more than 100 local residents.
“To give back to the community is always rewarding, and donating my time and services to the Soup Kitchen last weekend was no exception,” Leach said. “It is our job as neighbors to work together to raise awareness about homelessness and hunger, and to contribute what we can, when we can. Even simply offering a hand and a smile can go a long way.”
The Soup Kitchen was founded by volunteers in St. John's Church in 1982 as an outreach effort to serve the homeless community, and in its beginnings could only serve one meal per week to between fifty and seventy-five people. Today, roughly seventy volunteers serve meals to more than 600 people weekly. The Soup Kitchen can now accommodate meals four days of the week, serving the community each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and Saturday.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education estimated that as of 2008, approximately 30,000 children under age 18 were homeless. In addition, the most recent USDA study on hunger found that 10 percent of Pennsylvania families are at risk for hunger – more than 492,000 households across the state.
According to the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, the week prior to Thanksgiving each year is known as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. During this week schools, communities and cities nationwide work together with the goal of raising awareness of hunger and homelessness.
If you’d like to join the fight against hunger, please contact the Soup Kitchen at St. John's Episcopal Church, 23 E Airy St, Norristown, PA 19401 or by calling 610-272-4092.
NOTE: Attached is a photo of the breakfast held Saturday, November 21, 2009 at St. John's Episcopal Church. Pictured is Sen. Daylin Leach with Soup Kitchen co-chairs Grace & Cecil Bean.
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