SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A community food pantry that was ravaged by the Aug. 3 tornadoes brought about by Tropical Storm Isaias is back on its feet again.
The Jesus Focus Ministry Food Pantry at Bethanna in Bucks County had its tents twisted and more than a dozen trees downed by the storms. But when the pantry announced a fund drive to recover, the community responded — with $29,000.
“Our goal was $5,000, so we were completely blown away,” said CEO Karen Hamilton-Derry. “And our initial goal, we really didn’t know what the extent of the cost would be for the repair, so we did set what we thought as a modest, but realistic goal. But of course, we needed every penny of that $29,000.”
The money went toward three heavy-duty tents to provide cover from the elements for pantry volunteers, courtesy of Prudential Bank.
It also funded the removal of 15 mature trees that were knocked down by the tornadoes. The trees were memorials for children who had passed away at Bethanna. New ones will be planted in the spring.
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The drive-thru pantry is now ready to prepare for the winter, which means getting large sheds installed for volunteers.
”We’re hoping by Dec. 1 to have that set-up going,” said Hamilton-Derry. “We’re getting heaters for them, so they’ll be where we have the volunteers under cover, and then these tents will be the bridgeway between the shed and the car.”
She noted the pantry has helped 17,000 people since March when the pandemic first hit.
“We’re just so grateful to the community for the support,” she added. “This entire community stepped up in a wonderful way to just fill in the need, and we really wouldn’t have been able to restore ourselves without their help.”