2009 News
July 30, 2009
Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Food Drive To Benefit Bucks County Opportunity Council Pantries
Effort Part of “United We Serve” Community Service Initiative
With kickoff set for Saturday, August 1, 2009, the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) has recruited more than 20 businesses and organizations across the county to collect food for individuals and families struggling to meet their needs. The drive will benefit the Bucks County Opportunity Council’s network of food pantries.
The Corporation for National and Community Service is spearheading a “United We Serve” initiative, which includes a Web site – www.Serve.gov - intended to promote volunteerism across the United States. “Through United We Serve and Serve.gov, we hope to engage millions of Americans in service, this summer and beyond,” said Nicola Goren, the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Acting CEO.
Locally, RSVP and its volunteers will conduct food drives between Aug. 1 and Sept. 11 at multiple locations including the lobby of the Bucks County Courthouse (55 E. Court St., second floor, Doylestown), the Lower Bucks Government Services Center (7321 New Falls Rd., Levittown), 10 county senior centers, and more than a dozen business locations.
Participating businesses include Busy Bee Toys, Vogue Hair Studio and Hoagie Works on State St. in Doylestown Borough; Weichert Realtors in Doylestown Borough; Dale’s Deli in Levittown; New Hope U-Haul; New Hope Post Office; Stoney Hill Orchards in Yardley; the Marketplace at Delaware Valley College; Hellers Seafood in Warrington; Cornerstone Health and Fitness in New Hope and Furlong; the Doylestown Hospital outpatient rehabilitation department, and the Doylestown Wellness Center.
According to county RSVP Program Director Joanne Kozak, the Bucks County Opportunity Council depends on an extensive food provider network within the county to achieve food security for low-income residents through 29 organizations that participate in the Opportunity Council’s Pantry Network. Between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009, there were 11,026 more visits to the pantry network – representing a 33 percent increase.
Items most needed include shelf stable or powdered milk, canned meats, vegetables and fruit, infant formula, peanut butter, pasta, sauces, rice, beans, tuna, toothpaste, and shampoo.
County senior centers participating in the food drive include:
Bensalem Senior Citizens Center, 1850 Byberry Rd, Bensalem, 215-638-7720
Bristol Twp Senior Center, 2501 Bath Rd, Bristol, 215-785-6322
Central Bucks Sr. Center, 700 Shady Retreat Rd, Doylestown, 215-348-0565
Lower Bucks Senior Activity Center, Wood & Mulberry Sts., Bristol, 215-785-6322
Middletown Senior Citizens Center, 2142 Trenton Rd, Levittown, 215-945-2920
Morrisville Sr. Center, Boro Annex, 31 E. Cleveland Ave, Morrisville, 215-295-0567
Northampton Twp Senior Center, 165 Township Rd, Richboro, 215-357-8199
Pennridge Community Senior Center, 146 E. Main St, Silverdale, 215-453-7027
Upper Bucks Senior Citizens Center c/o Milford Fire House, Milford Square Rd, Quakertown, 215-536-3066
Ben Wilson Senior Center, 580 Delmont Ave, Warminster, 215-672-8380
ABOUT RSVP: The Bucks County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) provides opportunities for older adults age 55 and over to engage in services that address educational, public safety, environmental, health/nutrition, economic development and other human needs to achieve direct and demonstrable results. RSVP volunteers come from all economic, educational and social backgrounds and utilize their own talents and interest to help non-profit organizations address the full spectrum of community needs. Samples of volunteer activities include: crime prevention projects, disaster relief, health insurance counseling, tutoring, medication and drug education for seniors, tax assistance, telephone reassurance, senior center-based nutrition programs, driving for home-delivered meal programs, hospital service, intergenerational projects and more.
For RSVP information, please call its offices in:
Doylestown 215-340-1210
Levittown 215-949-5800