Bucks Bounty Food Pantry Seeks Help from Bensalem Council

A representative from Bucks Bounty, a non-profit food organization reached out to the Bensalem Township Council for help in regards to being removed from the retail rescue program.

Jenny Root, a coordinator for the non-profit organization explained to the Council that another non-profit organization they work with known as Philabundance has been taking over half of the food the organization gathers for the Lower Bucks area by removing them from a program that allows them to take excess food and goods from local grocery stores and distribute it to those in need.

“Their deciding to remove us has been developing for over the past year or so,” Root explained to the council.

“Originally half of our retail rescue was being delivered to us by Philabundance, but then they decided they didn’t have the manpower to come up here in Bucks County and give us the food.”

Credit: Bucks Bounty

Root explained recently Bucks Bounty would wind up raising enough money to purchase its own refrigerated food truck that would go pick up food from Philabundance, and even helped on their behalf by picking up food from stores they couldn’t get too.

In spite of this, Philabundance would remove the organization, but still pick up food from Bensalem area grocery stores to take back into Philadelphia.

“We tried to talk to the food stores to bypass Philabundance, but they told us their hands are tied, and they have contracts with Philabundance and Feeding America.” Root explained at the meeting.

Root said Philabundance officials warned Bucks Bounty about trying to go around them also.  

Council Secretary Joseph Wenzel Jr. proposed to Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo the idea of writing a letter to Philabundance about keeping the donated food to Bensalem.

“I think if someone can come into the office and give us some of the information of where we need to go, we would certainly do that.” Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo said. 

Council Vice President Jesse Sloane asked the organization why they were dropped by Philabundance.

“They have said many times in the past that we are not an underserved community,” Root said.

“We just don’t think it’s fair that it’s coming from our grocery stores, and it’s being taken very far away.”

Council proposed that Bucks Bounty setup a a meeting with the mayor’s office to talk things over and hopefully reach a solution on how to get Bucks Bounty back on working terms with Philabundance. 

Root said Bucks Bounty provides food to about 500 families weekly and is doing all it can to replenish its resources and provide to the community it serves. 

Bucks Bounty operates out of  Cornwells United Methodist Church 2284 Bristol Pike in Bensalem. Signups are by appointment only on Tuesday & Friday: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. appointment  You can call 267-994-8513 for more information. Or visit their Meta page by clicking here. 

A Philabundance spokesperson was not immediately available for comment on this story as of publication time.  

Bucks Bounty Food Pantry serves all Bucks County Zip codes and Philadelphia County zip codes 19154, 19136 & 19114 residents only.  

Note: Publisher Jeff Bohen Contributed to this report