“We are here to help.”

That’s what it says on a flyer distributed in Upper Darby neighborhoods by the Upper Darby Community Outreach Corporation.

Working with Christ Lutheran Church in the 69th Street area, the UDCOC is a small nonprofit offering free hot meals for take out and delivery to anyone who needs it.

Guided by Pastor David Shaheen, the group of seven volunteers and two paid cooks prepare meals two evenings a week, distributing them to lines of people who show up at the church.

This week, they are starting deliveries of free hot meals to the elderly or anyone (including families) in need.

Pastor Shaheen started the nonprofit at Christ Lutheran Church, where he was pastor for 20 years. The group helped the community with services like after-school programs and English language instruction.

When the pandemic shut everything down, the Upper Darby Community Outreach Corporation looked for other ways to help.

“We decided another thing we could do to meet the needs of the community would be to help folks who are suffering from food insufficiency,” Pastor David said. “Right now we’re focusing on getting food out to people so they have the nourishment they need during this stressful time.”

The group’s focus initially was to get hot evening meals to the elderly, who may feel vulnerable, alone in apartments, afraid or unable to go shopping.

But they also help the many who have lost jobs in the pandemic, who suddenly don’t have enough food to feed themselves and their families.

Pastor David emphasizes their service is not a food bank.

“Anybody can throw together a bag of canned goods but we wanted to give them a hot evening meal so that they felt really cared for, like a homemade meal,” he said.

Meals are prepared in the church kitchen. Food is donated, or purchased from restaurant wholesalers.

Companies like Astra Foods in Upper Darby, which is a big cheese steak supplier, has donated cooked beef.

“Last night we did 110 meals. Each night we get more and more people show up so the word is getting out that way,” Pastor David said.

Social workers from the Upper Darby School District will pass along word of  a family in need and will help get food distributed.

He tells one story of a local woman who died from cancer, leaving behind a baby and children. Now the grandmother takes care of them.

“She needs money for diapers and formula, things like that. We were able to help the social worker help the grandmother,” Pastor David said.

It takes about $500 a week to keep the food program running.

Although donations are appreciated, Pastor David said he is more interested in making sure people who need their help know about their meal program.

“We’ll keep going as long as there’s a need or as long as we have the resources,” he said.

For meal deliveries, call 610-352-7008 between 9 a.m. and noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

To pick up food, stop by Christ Lutheran Community Church, 7240 Walnut Street in Upper Darby on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. 

Volunteers who want to make deliveries can also call 610-352-7008.