Home > News Bytes > DRBC Cares for Its Communities: Staff Prep Over 1,700 Meals at Mercer St. Friends Food Bank
DRBC Cares for Its Communities: Staff Prep Over 1,700 Meals at Mercer St. Friends Food Bank
DRBC staff grab a group pic after a successful visit. Photo by DRBC.
DRBC staff take a group photo after packing over 100
boxes for MSF's Send
Hunger Packing Program.
Photo by DRBC.

While the main efforts of DRBC staff are focused on managing and protecting the shared interstate waters of the Delaware River Basin, they also care about helping out in our local communities.

Eleven DRBC staff recently volunteered at the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank (MSF) in Ewing Township, N.J.

MSF is the leader of the community's response to hunger, offering prevention programs and annually distributing 5.5 million pounds of privately- and government-donated food to a network of more than 100 shelters, soup kitchens and food pantries in Mercer County, N.J. In addition to running the food bank, Mercer Street Friends also offers a free preschool and many programs for youth, adults and parents.

This year, staff helped make more than 870 food bags, which equaled over 1,700 meals! This was our 7th year volunteering at the Food Bank, and we always appreciate the experience.

This year, we were especially grateful to help, as we know that the need is greater than ever. The second year of the pandemic has hit children and families in need as hard as the first; MSF's Send Hunger Packing Program has provided over 20,000 weekend meals to Mercer County students since September 2021 alone. In total, over two million meals have been distributed since March 2020 through MSF's Community Food Bag Program.

Please visit their website (linked above) to learn more about their efforts and programs.

Thank you to the MSF staff for having us and for all you do in the local community!

During the holiday season and all throughout the year, DRBC staff are proud to do their part to help those in need. A small agency can have a big impact when they work together to do good for others.

The Mercer Street Friends logo. Photo by DRBC.DRBC staff have taken their places and are ready to get packing! Photo by DRBC.The front of the line preps the bags and packs the heavier items first: self-stable milk and juice boxes. Photo by DRBC.
Next, lunch items and healthy snacks are packed, followed by cereals and oatmeal. Photo by DRBC.Staff pause for a quick photo during packing. Photo by DRBC.At the end of the line, bags are sealed, boxed and stacked. Staff also worked as runners, gathering items off the warehouse shelves to restock packing bins and making boxes. Photo by DRBC.The DRBC volunteers' tally was added to the welcome sign. Each bag held two meals, for a total of 1,744 meals! Now that's teamwork! Photo by DRBC.Staff volunteers signed a DRBC Tshirt to be added to others that fill the MSF office walls. Photo by DRBC.