Student Council kicked off the annual food drive on Nov. 6, and donations will be collected on Nov. 25. Both Milford’s Ecumenical Food Pantry and the Holy Trinity Food Pantry of Dingmans Ferry will receive donations from the food drive. Boxed and canned goods can be brought to students’ homeroom classes, and at the end of the drive, donation boxes will be picked up by Student Council members.

The food drive is essential for the local food pantries because it helps them prepare for the influx of people during the Thanksgiving season, and it replenishes their food supply for the rest of the year. Communities are directly impacted by a lack of supplies in food pantries because those who need assistance from food pantries are unable to receive the help they need, which can cause a decline in mental and physical health. 

Donations are needed now more than ever in food pantries across Pike County due to recent nationwide budget cuts and according to Feeding Pennsylvania, in the last two years the number of people struggling with food insecurity in PA has increased by 40%.

The SNAP program will be affected, which increases the need for food and donations in food pantries greatly. According to PBS News, SNAP helps 40 million Americans, or about 1 in 8, buy groceries. If there is a pause in the program, the need for resources will rise dramatically, and the food drive can help alleviate some of the weight on the food pantries.

“Delaware Valley High School students put their heart and soul into the annual food drive. The results are phenomenal and show how much they care about fighting hunger in Pike County.” said Nancy Potter, the Ecumenical Food Pantry director. “The need for food is bigger than ever this year. Thank you, DV, for being a wonderful partner in fighting hunger.”