Two local Rotary clubs, Media and Glen Mills-Thornbury, recently gave a check for $2325.00 to the Media Food Bank. It all started when Rotary District 7450 wanted to help local food banks in their five county area. District Governor, Peter Mardinly, recommended that the district provide $500 matching grants for any of the 51 clubs to use for their local food banks, encouraging clubs and their members to match the funds. So far over 40 clubs have accepted the grants including the Rotary Club of Media and the Rotary Club of Glen Mills-Thornbury. Members of the Rotary Club of Media contributed $825 and their club foundation provided an additional $500, more than matching the two district grants. Mardinly expects over $50,000 to be contributed to local food banks throughout Rotary District 7450.
While presenting the check to Media Food Bank Director Bonnie Scarborough, several club members had an opportunity to see the food bank preparing for their weekly guests, which now total 125 families each week. When asked about where they get the food, Bonnie said the state and federal governments provide most of it, although this week (July 30) the federal government was not making a delivery. She said that each allotment from the state must have a separate area to store it and the same is true for the federal food. Then they also receive food from a number of area stores, including Trader Joe’s, Wegmanns, Panera, Linvilla and even Tyler Arboretum. She was also appreciative of the many schools and civic organizations that have regular food drives, along with the generosity of many individual donors. In addition they receive both financial support and food items from many local faith communities including Nativity BVM church, Lima Methodist Church, Reformation Lutheran Church, Media and Middletown Presbyterian churches, the Unitarian church of Media, Beth Israel Jewish congregation. First Methodist Church of Media hosts the food bank, providing space for the food storage and distribution along with many volunteers and food contributions.
Now Past District Governor, Peter Mardinly, said “There are food banks like this all over the region and all are challenged with increased requests for food because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their volunteers are the epitome of our Rotary motto, “Service Above Self,” and we felt that we had to do something to support their work and the generous donations of food by area businesses and local residents.” Ms. Scarborough acknowledged that the check came at just the right time, with the state budget not yet adopted and funding from them and the federal government uncertain.
If you want to contribute to the food bank, or learn more about Rotary, you can go to www.Mediarotary.org. At the bottom of the homepage article on supporting the local food bank, click on the donate button.