The summer months tend to be particularly difficult for low-income families, further compounded this year by the coronavirus pandemic that has caused many American families to lose income. This is the case right in our backyard in the Delaware County communities of Marcus Hook, Trainer and Linwood.
Energy Transfer has joined with other local organizations to help combat growing child hunger by supporting the summer meal program hosted by Cokesbury United Methodist Church (UMC) in Marcus Hook and the Chichester School District.
The “Fun Friday” program, which launched June 26, will provide children with breakfasts and lunches every Friday to last them through the weekend. Fun Friday is meant to complement the school district’s weekday meal program, which has been extended to cover the summer months in light of the pandemic. The program is open to all local children ages 1-18, regardless of whether they attend school in Chichester School District.
As part of Fun Friday, children also receive free books, educational activities, STEM projects and family games. A weekly calendar challenges children to complete activities during the upcoming week for prizes.
“From helping fight childhood hunger to supporting our first responders, we are proud to support the Marcus Hook and surrounding communities as much as possible,” said Joe McGinn, Energy Transfer’s vice president of public affairs. “As families in our communities face new hardships and work through this pandemic, it is more important than ever that we band together to take care of each other. We hope other organizations are able to step up and contribute.”
As a contribution to Fun Friday, Energy Transfer donated $5,000 and several thousand Sunoco APlus bags for food delivery, in addition to helping Cokesbury UMC raise awareness and launch a supply drive. The most-needed supplies include new games, puzzles, crayons, activity books and school supplies. The meals themselves are reimbursed by the state.
Cokesbury UMC will distribute meals and activities every Friday through Aug. 14 at two locations and times: 10:30-11:15 a.m. at Linwood Heights UMC (1627 Chichester Ave., Linwood, PA 19061) and 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Cokesbury UMC (307 Market St., Marcus Hook, PA 19061). While registration is not required to participate in Fun Friday, Cokesbury UMC requests that families do register at www.cokesburyumc.info.
In addition to Energy Transfer, Braskem USA, Energy Transfer’s neighbor at the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex, along with local building trades, including Steamfitters Local Union 420, have contributed to the program.
The school district and Cokesbury UMC want to make sure that no child in the Marcus Hook, Trainer and Linwood communities goes hungry this summer. Energy Transfer is proud to be a part of this life-sustaining initiative.
Energy Transfer has long-standing commitments to organizations and causes that fight hunger in Pennsylvania — including local food banks like Faith Restorations Inc., regional nonprofits like Philabundance and fundraising events like 93.3 WMMR’s Camp Out For Hunger.
To get notified of future Energy Transfer updates, subscribe here.