EASTON, Pa. — The Boys and Girls Club of Easton is welcoming the neighborhood to swing on by to pick up some good eats while building an even stronger community this weekend.
The BGCE kicked off the community-oriented giveaway Friday, but if you happened to miss it, don’t worry, there’s another session scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 9.
But this is no food bank, BGCE’s Dean Young said.
Here, you can find “a diverse selection of superior produce, baked goods, meats, and prepared meals” procured from contributors like ShopRite, Wegmans, and local grocery stores and bakeries.
As Young describes it, the event is the product of growing concerns regarding food insecurity and stagnant wages.
“The prevailing factor here is that is was driven by need, and understanding that people were hurt and that more alternatives should be made available to make sure that any families or children have food on the table,” Young said.
Fortunately, with support from local retailers and the Richard and Susan Masters Family Foundation, Young and the BGCE team have been able to bring more people on board, including Young’s new right-hand person, Michelle McKessey.
“The prevailing factor here is that is was driven by need, and understanding that people were hurt and that more alternatives should be made available to make sure that any families or children have food on the table.”Dean Young
As Young put it, the giveaway is not necessarily akin to a food bank, rather, anyone from the community is welcome.
“Our objective is to make sure that we are something that’s supplementary. We’re not a food bank, in terms of what people would see as a traditional food bank where people come in and they have a bag of goods for you,” Young said.
“Here, we’re able to get food donations, from pastries to meats to assorted breads to prepared meals, and folks literally come in and they can navigate through it all.”
The response from city residents has been incredible — according to Young, volunteers are greeted with smiles, cheerful welcomes, and “a lot of jokes.”
“It's been a real positive exchange between the folks who originally just came in because they were in dire need for support to now, actually, it's great social opportunity for them, as well as for me,” Young said.
“I'm getting to meet some folks who I hadn't met before. I have the opportunity to get reenergized, because they're expressing their appreciation. We always talk about gratitude is not something that you look for, but when you get it, you embrace it, because you deserve it.”
According to Young, the idea came about during the pandemic, when “at one point we were delivering door-to-door,” and has blossomed into something new for everyone.
Young said Friday’s event went very well — he estimates about 70 families attended — and he anticipates Sunday to be even better. However, he does encourage attendees to show up on time to ensure the BGCE can stick to their programming.
“It's really a community atmosphere we're trying to develop. And we have developed a place where it's very cordial, where people enter, they shake hands, exchange greetings, and are departing as friends,” Young said.
As the USDA reports, food insecurity increased from 2022 to 2023, and statistically, a significant portion of the population will see at least some instance of food insecurity throughout the year. With escalating food prices and overall inflation, operations like the BGCE’s may become more integral than ever.
But at the heart of it, the mission is still all about the community, Young said.
“We tell people the only prerequisite is that when you arrive, arrive with a cheerful smile on your face, and when you leave, hopefully, you can part with a word of thanks that you got more than you have,” Young said.
