For the last 20 years, the Wayne Presbyterian Church family has been providing Easter meals for families in need in Southwest Philadelphia. This year, 75 meals were given out to different families.
Families of the church select a family anonymously and purchase food, an Easter basket, and gifts so that the family can enjoy the holiday dinner together. The size of the basket is determined by the size of the family.
Ms. Lorraine Thomas and the rest of the staff at Southwest CDC would like to thank the Wayne Presbyterian Church families, the Myers Recreation Center, as well as the Outley House Volunteers.
“It could not have been done without the volunteers from the Outley House,” Ms. Lorraine said. Many of the boxes given by the families are filled with gifts and food and are much too heavy for one person to lift. The volunteers from the Outley House help make the distribution of the Easter baskets run smoothly by unloading the Uhaul truck that the food baskets arrive in.
Families in need are selected from the Southwest CDC afterschool program at Patterson Elementary as well as from the community at-large. People will reach out with referrals to families they believe are in need.
Every year only 75 meals are given out. A list of the families in need is collected months in advance to determine who will collect the baskets around Easter.
“We welcome all volunteers, but please bring someone that can help you carry the basket,” Ms. Lorraine advised, “because they are usually very large tupperware totes.”
