In 2020, Nutritional Development Services collected nearly 18,000 pounds of non-perishable canned “one-meal” items to help stock the shelves of its food cupboards and outreaches.
Nutritional Development Services (NDS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is launching its annual “One-Can Meal” food drive to enable broad and meaningful participation in the Lenten season.
Lenten food drives help fulfill the season’s call to almsgiving. This year’s effort is especially critical when many across the Philadelphia region are faced with increased food insecurity and financial challenges stemming from the ongoing pandemic.
Those interested in helping our neighbors in need can support NDS’ Community Food Program by purchasing “one-can” meal food items online through You Give Goods at www.yougivegoods.com/ndslentenfood. All goods donated now through March 30 will be distributed throughout the five-county area to NDS’ network of over 50 food cupboards and outreach centers.
NDS is also partnering with schools throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to organize collections within their school communities. Participating faculty, staff and students are encouraged to collect non-perishable “one-can” meals such as canned meats, soups, and beans to benefit those in need.
To further help food-insecure individuals and families, faithful can also participate in Rice Bowl, an initiative of Catholic Relief Services (CRS). This faith-in-action program provides a tangible way to incorporate prayer, fasting, and almsgiving into our Lenten journeys. A quarter of all donations made to Rice Bowl support NDS and are used to combat hunger and poverty locally. For additional information, please visit http://archphila.org/crsricebowl/.
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Editor’s Note: For over 47 years, NDS’ mission has been to serve children and those in need with healthy food and food-related resources. NDS accomplishes its mission in two distinct ways: by administering the federally-funded child nutrition programs and through the privately supported Community Food Program. For more information about NDS, please visit https://nutritionaldevelopmentservices.org/. NDS is an equal opportunity service provider.
For more information on NDS’ “One-Can Meal” Food Drive or for information on setting up a local food drive, please contact Denise Hopkins, Administrator, NDS’ Community Food Program at 215-895-3470 ext. 77823 or dhopkins@ndsarch.org.