Martha’s Choice Marketplace offers help, with dignity
Photo by Sarah Webb.
Martha’s Choice Marketplace, a way for needy families to select foods of their choosing at Catholic Social Services’ Montgomery County Family Service Center in Norristown, was blessed by Bishop John McIntyre on Tuesday, Nov. 24.
The food pantry preserves the dignity of patrons and fosters a welcoming environment that promotes warm relationships between patrons, staff and volunteers. It is the largest food distribution program in Montgomery County, assisting men, women and children struggling with food insecurity throughout the region.
Major benefactors of the Catholic Social Services project include the Order of Malta-Federal Association and North Penn Community Health Foundation, along with local community partners CADCOM, Cabrini College, Eastern College, Gwynedd Mercy College, Philabundance, Shoprite, Ursinus College, Villanova University, Nutritional Development Services and local Scout Troops #7155 and #369.
More than 70 volunteers serve at the pantry on a weekly basis, most from a dozen local parishes involved in the effort for years, including: Epiphany of Our Lord, St. Eleanor, St. Genevieve, St. Helena, St. Maria Goretti, St. Paul, St. Stanislaus, St. Titus, Visitation B.V.M., Mother of Divine Providence, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Francis of Assisi.
CatholicPhilly.com. (2015, November 24). Martha’s Choice Marketplace offers help, with dignity. Retrieved from: http://catholicphilly.com/2015/11/photo-features/marthas-choice-marketplace-offers-help-with-dignity/?utm_source=CatholicPhilly+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3bc62cb137-Newsletter_vol_4_no_27+11-24-15&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e0d5b43f94-3bc62cb137-75147513
HealthSpark Foundation helped to support the renovations necessary to transition this food pantry into a choice model.