The Chester County Food Bank and The Foundation for Delaware County are at the forefront of the fight to tackle food insecurities in the region, writes Elina Tonkova for Generocity.

Despite being among the most affluent counties, both regions have a number of residents dealing with food insecurities.

The Chester County Food Bank has found one of the best ways to tackle this is to balance the assets and needs of its beneficiaries, according to executive director Larry Welsch.

For example, the Food Bank installed twin high-tunnel gardens at Patton Middle School in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, where only five percent of students get free or reduced lunches. The nutritious food grown in the gardens is shared with students in the Kennett Consolidated School District, where roughly 40 percent are eligible for free or reduced lunches.

The Food Bank also uses its FRESHstart Kitchen to train those with barriers to employment for sustainable careers in the food service industry.

In Delco, each community is key to the diverse county’s success as a whole.

“Delco collectively has the brain power to succeed,” said Frances Sheehan, president of The Foundation for Delaware County. “No one entity can do this work alone — here or anywhere.”

Read more about the best practices in tackling food insecurity at Generocity here.

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