Bucks County Realtors® Raise Money for Food Pantries

The Bucks County Association of Realtors® is conducting a virtual food drive for the Bucks County Housing Group, which runs two food pantries in the county. BCAR has raised $3,190 for BCHG through online donations and BCAR Reach Out Committee Co-Chair Jessica Finnell raised $1,815 of that total through Facebook donations.

Bucks County Housing Group runs two community food pantries, serving about 300 households each week, according to Erik Clare, BCHG executive director. They’ve seen a nearly 20% increase in the number of families and the numbers continue to rise. “Each day we have inquiries from new patrons who have never needed to rely on a food pantry. We’ve even seen some longtime donors of food need to come and receive food.”

In order to ensure food safety, BCHG has stopped accepting food donations. And the crisis has caused donations from grocery stores, a major source of their donated food, to become almost nonexistent.

“With two-thirds of our food donation sources suddenly cut, we have to make up the difference by purchasing food and additionally, sanitary supplies in order to continue to serve our customers, things not included in our budget,” Clare explained.

BCAR President Scott Geller said, “Food insecurity. Not knowing where your next meal will come from. Hunger and the daily stress of figuring out how to feed your family is something none of us ever want to go through. Thanks to the help of many of our BCAR members’ generosity in their time and their money, the amazing folks at the Bucks County Housing Group, in conjunction with other local food banks, are feeding our neighbors through this pandemic. They still need our help! Since they can’t take donations of food right now, your monetary donations will keep them going and help to feed our friends and neighbors in need. I encourage those who can, to donate. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.”

Clare said BCAR is one of the longest standing and most important partners of the Housing Group. The association supports BCHG throughout the year with “Back to School” backpacks and supplies, Thanksgiving meals to homeless shelter families and holds food drives throughout the year.

“We want to thank BCAR and all our donors who have stepped up their giving to enable us to continue to purchase food and feed those in our community that otherwise would go hungry.” Clare said. “We also want to recognize that our pantry staff and volunteers are serving on the front lines of this pandemic. They are putting themselves and their families at risk because they are amazing, gracious and caring people who put others needs before their own.”