Volunteer Rick Fanciullacci stands at the entrance to the Manna Market, awaiting those shopping for groceries at Manna on Main Street in Lansdale on Tuesday Nov. 23 2021. Photo by Dan Sokil | The Reporter.
Town officials urge residents to back those in need
With state and federal budget stalemates showing no signs of ending soon, North Wales officials are asking residents to help where they can.
“With the failure of the federal and state governments to pass budgets, we are very rapidly approaching a cliff in our safety net for services throughout our community,” said Mayor Neil McDevitt.
“There are federal employees that have not received paychecks. I have several friends, that used to work for the federal government, who both wage earners are now furloughed, and they have no money coming in,” he said.
Lawmakers have grappled with budget stalemates in both Washington and Harrisburg this month, as legislators have been unable to pass a 2025-26 state budget nearly four months after a June 30 deadline. The federal government shutdown began Oct. 1 and is at the one-month mark as cuts to federal food and energy assistance, including the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, are taking effect this weekend.
During the Oct. 28 meeting, McDevitt kicked off a discussion about how area residents can help those impacted by the ongoing budget stalemates and accompanying cuts in benefits and services.
“People who are on SNAP — they are basically being told that, come November, you’re not going to get anything,” he said.
“It’s vital that our community support our local food banks. Manna on Main Street is a wonderful organization — donate, give them food — but also, keep an eye on your neighbors. Sometimes they don’t know what services are available,” McDevitt said.
Manna on Main Street Common Grounds program trainees Victoria Cox, Jennifer Selfinger, and Marissa Pooler, left to right, hold pies prepared for a Thanksgiving meal distribution with help from Manna Safety and Production Manager Lisa Divincenzo, at rear, on Tuesday Nov. 23 2021.
Manna on Main Street Common Grounds program trainee Victoria Cox, center, and Manna Safety & Production Manager Lisa Divincenzo, left, check on pumpkin pies baking for Thanksgiving meals on Tuesday Nov. 23 2021.
Manna on Main Street celebrated the grand opening of its new Online Market Hub on Cannon Avenue in Lansdale on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
Manna on Main Street celebrated the grand opening of its new Online Market Hub on Cannon Avenue in Lansdale on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.Council candidate Melanie Catanese said she had read statistics indicating that over 60,000 residents in Montgomery County are recipients of SNAP benefits, out of over 100,000 who are eligible, and about 30 percent of the students at North Wales Elementary School are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.
“Starting November 1st, they are not going to be receiving SNAP. So those children will not have access to food — food insecurity is going to increase,” she said.
If and when budgets are passed at the state or federal level, local nonprofits and organizations could take up to two weeks to restore funding and services, she added, and any lost benefits so far may not be granted retroactively.
“North Wales Borough is not a wealthy community. We have a lot of people who are low income, and it’s really important that we look out for each other and check on our neighbors,” she said.
She asked if the borough would be willing to host a collection site for donations to Manna or any other local pantries, and borough Manager Christine Hart said she’d look into doing so. Council VP Wendy McClure asked if food could be donated at the elementary school for students, and Catanese said the district does fund a free breakfast for all students, and a free or reduced-price lunch.
“They are getting a free or reduced lunch during the day, but when they come home they may not have dinner. And there are no meals at school on the weekend,” Catanese said.
Council President Mark Tarlecki said he works in a neighboring school district where staff send packages of food products home with students to provide those meals over the weekend. Pastor Andreas Wagner of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church said that church does collection drives to help Manna, and resident Roseann D’Angelo said St. Rose of Lima Church and school also maintains a collection bin where donations can be dropped off.
“I would suggest that everyone reach out to your church or parish you participate in, because there is a lot of work, a lot of volunteerism, going on,” she said.
In prior years, Hart added, the borough municipal building on School Street has served as a collection point for a similar drive for area veterans deployed overseas, but that drive is not being held this year so collections for pantries could be a substitute. Councilwoman Anji Fazio said she had heard that polling places in town would also serve as collection spots for donations, and thanked those looking to step up.
Volunteers pose with collected donation items for the North Wales “A Soldier’s Christmas” drive in 2016. (Photo via Facebook: North Wales Borough)
Rendering of the lobby of the planned Manna on Main Street “Online Market Hub” on Cannon Avenue in Lansdale. (Image by Constance Lezenby Architects LLC courtesy of Manna on Main Street)“I’m just so thankful to see the community come together, and talk about what we can do. A lot of times, people think it doesn’t affect them, but I can guarantee you everyone in this room knows someone on SNAP, and who needs that,” Fazio said.
Councilman Sherwin Collins asked if any specific items were needed or in low supply for local pantries, and Hart said she would coordinate with Manna to find out specifics. Councilwoman Candace Anderson added that she and her daughter Violet, the town’s new junior councilmember, take part in a “Lasagna Love” global nonprofit program where volunteer chefs can sign up online at lasagnalove.org to bake meals for those in need.
“You can sign up, and then people can say they want a lasagna, and you literally deliver them a lasagna. We did eight; we try to give back that way, and you can do it every other week, or whenever you can,” Anderson said.
In a statement sent to supporters Thursday, Manna said they have recently experienced a “sharp reduction in food donations from several key sources,” and said roughly 20 percent of all food donated to Manna is impacted or at risk of federal funding cuts.
“Donated food allows Manna’s Kitchen to serve 14,000-plus meals every month, or nearly 500 every day, which is three times as many as we were serving in spring 2022. We set a new record in August, at 14,877 meals, which broke July’s record,” said Manna.
“We fulfill 1,500 grocery visits every month, which is two times as many as in spring 2022. Just last month, we set a record for households served in a month, 976, even more than during the height of COVID-19,” Manna said.
Items most in need by Manna this week include canned corn, green beans, Spam, chili, and short pasta, and donations can be dropped off at Manna facilities on Cannon Avenue or Main Street in Lansdale, or items shipped via their online Amazon Wish List.
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