Valley Forge Tourism Launches Ambitious Fall Campaign To Fight Hunger And Support Thousands Of Families In Montgomery County

Published on August 19, 2025

Valley Forge continues to conflict hunger arsenic nan Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board kicks disconnected its 11th yearly Fall Freedom from Hunger Food Drive. The extremity of nan run is to thief reside nan escalating situation of nutrient insecurity successful Montgomery County and bring captious resources to section families who dangle connected regular entree to value nutrition.

Local residents were served a free repast prepared by nan tourism committee astatine Emmanuel Lutheran Church successful Pottstown arsenic portion of Prima’s organization repast event. More than 60 visitors dined connected hamburgers, basking dogs and crystal cream, provided by a nutrient aid from area caterers and farms. The opening connection sets nan shape for nan assemblage of tourism, section businesses and organization organizations to cooperatively measurement guardant to respond to situation needs.

The Freedom from Hunger Food Drive is portion of SHARE’s business pinch nan Montco Anti-Hunger Network (MAHN), nan conjugation of nutrient pantries, crockery kitchens and hunger alleviation statement moving to amended nan county’s emergency nutrient information net. This year, nan run intends to raise $15,000, which successful nutrient bankspeak equals astir 180,000 pounds of food. Donations will beryllium dispersed among much than 70 nutrient pantries and crockery kitchens that service astir 85,000 quiet households successful Montgomery County.

The request for thief is increasing. By 2024, complete half of nan location nutrient pantries did not person capable nutrient to meet nan requests of nan hungry; astatine some, only half of nan group successful request received help. But it besides makes it truthful important that projects for illustration nan Freedom from Hunger Food Drive activity to thief make judge everyone has capable to eat.

The Freedom from Hunger Food Drive has been a staple of Valley Forge’s autumn events almanac since launching successful 2015. Originally started successful tandem pinch a ample organization dedication, nan thrust has pulled successful much than half a cardinal pounds of nutrient for residents successful Montgomery County who find themselves hungry. Last year’s run exceeded expectations, bringing successful nan monetary balanced of complete 154,000 pounds of nutrient — much than expected.

Local citizens and business person been supporting nan 2025 thrust pinch nonstop donations aliases from waste proceeds. The run has besides been selected arsenic a beneficiary of The Purpose Project astatine nan upcoming Playeasy Innovators Summit, which will donate an further $4,000 (48,000 pounds of food) to thief meet nan ever-increasing demand.

The Freedom from Hunger Food Drive, which successful 2020, is wholly based online, making it easy to donate, and organizers get real-time updates truthful that they tin nonstop donations wherever they’re needed. The run will tally done October pinch donations taken done https://www.valleyforge.org/hunger.

Since its creation successful 2014, nan Montco Anti-Hunger Network has grown to beryllium an indispensable portion of nan nutrient assistance infrastructure successful Montgomery County. MAHN facilitates collaboration, improves efficiency, and guarantees resources spell wherever they are needed astir by connecting 73 nutrient pantries, nutrient banks, and repast providers crossed nan network. Recently, MAHN has knowledgeable 113% maturation successful nutrient delivered, emphasizing that we person nan opportunity to make a important effect successful nan conflict against hunger successful Montgomery County and we request each different to make it happen.

Not only does nan Freedom from Hunger thrust connection contiguous help-it has taught nan worth of being a portion of, and moving pinch nan community. In bringing together residents, businesses and organizations, nan run is mounting an illustration of what sustainable, community-wide efforts tin and should look for illustration to reside nutrient insecurity and make judge nary 1 successful Montgomery County goes hungry.