Gifts of Food
If you have a group that wants to help UCHC but realize that you are too many to assist at a meal (i.e., more than three), please consider (a) making sandwiches to be passed out on a Saturday or (b) making decorated bags of sweets or (c) splitting into groups of 3 (or 4) and bringing fruit to a meal.
(a) We make approximately 110 meat sandwiches (usually a turkey product of some kind because some people don't eat pork for health or religious reasons). In addition, we add a small snack, such as peanut butter or cheese crackers, to the baggie and hand out a soda to each guest. We store the sandwiches in two large plastic garbage bags. Sandwiches should be delivered to the kitchen at St Mary's Church Thursday evening between 4:30 and 7:00 or Thursday or Friday between 10 and 2 at the Church office.
(b) Our guests find great pleasure in individually decorated (white) paper bags containing candy, cookies, nuts and other treats. We like to have at least 80 to ensure that every guest gets one. These can be brought to any meal and handed out by two or three of you as an extra treat or you can substitute your cookies (unbagged) or flat cakes (already cut) for our ordinary evening’s dessert, provided they arrive at the meal site by 5:30. Or they can be dropped off at St Mary's during office hours or delivered to a mutually convenient spot. In any case, be sure to check with us the day before (call 610-639-4395).
(c) We have added fruit to our dinner menu about once a week to the delight of our guests, and we encourage groups of 3 (or 4) to come to any meal with enough fruit for 80 guests (for example: 2 medium watermelons or a watermelon plus 4-5 cantaloupes). You can then cut up the fruit and pass it out after the guests have been served the main meal. Whole bananas are also welcome as long as they aren't completely green, and oranges and clementines are good choices, too. (Apples and other hard fruits are not as helpful because some of our guests have tooth and gum problems.) Please let us know a day in advance if you plan to do this.
(a) We make approximately 110 meat sandwiches (usually a turkey product of some kind because some people don't eat pork for health or religious reasons). In addition, we add a small snack, such as peanut butter or cheese crackers, to the baggie and hand out a soda to each guest. We store the sandwiches in two large plastic garbage bags. Sandwiches should be delivered to the kitchen at St Mary's Church Thursday evening between 4:30 and 7:00 or Thursday or Friday between 10 and 2 at the Church office.
(b) Our guests find great pleasure in individually decorated (white) paper bags containing candy, cookies, nuts and other treats. We like to have at least 80 to ensure that every guest gets one. These can be brought to any meal and handed out by two or three of you as an extra treat or you can substitute your cookies (unbagged) or flat cakes (already cut) for our ordinary evening’s dessert, provided they arrive at the meal site by 5:30. Or they can be dropped off at St Mary's during office hours or delivered to a mutually convenient spot. In any case, be sure to check with us the day before (call 610-639-4395).
(c) We have added fruit to our dinner menu about once a week to the delight of our guests, and we encourage groups of 3 (or 4) to come to any meal with enough fruit for 80 guests (for example: 2 medium watermelons or a watermelon plus 4-5 cantaloupes). You can then cut up the fruit and pass it out after the guests have been served the main meal. Whole bananas are also welcome as long as they aren't completely green, and oranges and clementines are good choices, too. (Apples and other hard fruits are not as helpful because some of our guests have tooth and gum problems.) Please let us know a day in advance if you plan to do this.
Individual Gifts of Food
UCHC is frequently asked if it can use fresh and non-perishable food items. Since we prepare meals for upwards of 100 guests at a sitting, we cannot use food packaged in domestic sizes. However, we are happy to refer you to food cupboard sites that serve University City and West Philadelphia. (UCHC is not responsible for the accuracy of this information, but we do try to keep it current so please let us know if it is out of date.)
For any food: (a) Fresh Start: Derek Felton, 215-769-0659 ext. 106 or dfelton@hungercoalition.org; (b) First African Presbyterian Church Food Cupboard, 4159 W. Girard Ave: Nate Maybin 215-254-4681 or 215-477-3100 (ask for Nate or Geri).
For non-perishable food only: (a) St. Barnabas Mission, 6006 West Girard Ave. : Kitchen Coordinator, 215-528-5147; (b) Calvin Presbyterian Church, 5931 Master Street, 215-877-7711; and (c) The Church of the Holy Apostles and the Mediator, 51st and Spruce Streets: 215-472-3000, 10 AM - 2 PM weekdays (distribution every other Thursday).
For any food: (a) Fresh Start: Derek Felton, 215-769-0659 ext. 106 or dfelton@hungercoalition.org; (b) First African Presbyterian Church Food Cupboard, 4159 W. Girard Ave: Nate Maybin 215-254-4681 or 215-477-3100 (ask for Nate or Geri).
For non-perishable food only: (a) St. Barnabas Mission, 6006 West Girard Ave. : Kitchen Coordinator, 215-528-5147; (b) Calvin Presbyterian Church, 5931 Master Street, 215-877-7711; and (c) The Church of the Holy Apostles and the Mediator, 51st and Spruce Streets: 215-472-3000, 10 AM - 2 PM weekdays (distribution every other Thursday).