Deborah and her L.O.G.I.C. (Logistics, Operations, General Warehousing and Inventory Control) are weeks away from celebrating their graduation from the program! Since October, students have been training in the Food Bank’s Newark warehouse learning the ins and outs of the operations/logistics field. They learn warehouse machinery and have an opportunity to earn four certifications including Certified Logistics Associate and Certified Logistics Technician credentials from the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council, OSHA-10 General Industry Certificate and Forklift Certification. We recently cau ..read more

The Food Bank of Delaware’s home delivery program is literally a lifeline for some of our neighbors. Ted, for example, lives in Delmar at the southern-most state border. He’s in his 40s, and is unable to drive. Even with a loving family and friends for support, he has limited access to food, and he’s very grateful for the box delivered by Amazon each month. Ted says he learned about the Food Bank Home Delivery option through his social worker, and he recognizes that he receives more than food. “This service benefits me by doing the following:  showing that people  care. I  get r ..read more

Joan Brown and her L.O.G.I.C. (Logistics, Operations, General Warehousing and Inventory Control) classmates are just weeks away from graduating! It’s been a fulfilling experience for Joan so far. Before enrolling in the program, Joan was a caretaker for children. She learned about L.O.G.I.C. through a flyer; she has always been interested in learning to operate a forklift so she thought it was “perfect” opportunity. L.O.G.I.C. (Logistics, Operations, General Warehousing and Inventory Control) is a 14-week training program, certified as a trade school by the Delaware Department of Educatio ..read more

Today was a day of celebration at the Food Bank of Delaware in Newark. Graduation ceremonies for students who have completed The Kitchen School featured all the pomp and circumstances associated with a significant occasion: certificates, speeches, applause, a few tears of joy – and lunch. The graduates are: Raymond Aborn, Kirub Alemeshet, Nazim Bailey, Ryan Beckman, Jabree Brown, Olivia Brown, Christion Dark, Sondrea Dawkins, Sy’raiah Evans, Vangeli Galindo-Smith, Nicole Heller, Nicole Jones, Samuel Kitts, Matthew Lombardi ..read more

Pre-schools prepare very  young students for life, with opportunities to play and learn, to socialize, to listen to stories, to make music, to follow directions, to make friends . . . the list goes on. The Head Start Center on White Oak Road in Dover offers pre-school education to 78 children ages 3-5 in an educational, classroom-based setting.  It’s one of 11 Head Start centers located throughout Kent and Sussex counties; Shonna Gillis is not only the director of those centers, she’s working double duty as director at White Oak – for now. Because this program targets low-income or n ..read more

Lorie describes her lifestyle as “off the grid”, but it’s not by choice. Like many of our neighbors receiving the Food Bank of Delaware’s home delivery service, she’s disabled and lacks transportation. While she enjoys her home in a rural area west of Dover, she’s new to the area and unable to build community connections. Her monthly food delivery from Amazon is a lifeline. “I really don’t know what I would do without it,” she said. After learning about the home delivery program from something she saw on TV about 8 or 9 months ago, she signed up. The Amazon home delivery program is intended fo ..read more

Thanks to Kent County’s American Rescue Plan Act funds, Kent County Levy Court presented the Food Bank of Delaware with a donation of one million dollars for its Building Hope in Milford capital campaign today. The Food Bank of Delaware is in the final stages of construction and just weeks away from opening the doors to the new 70,000-square-foot facility. A grand opening will be planned for January 2024. “Kent County is pleased to be a part of this project,” said Kent County Levy Court President Terry Pepper. “The Food Bank of Delaware is doing great things to address food insecurity as well ..read more

To say Janelle West enjoys and appreciates her job as a prep cook at The Clubhouse at Baywood is an understatement. “I just love it here.” was her greeting. West is a July graduate of The Kitchen School at the Food Bank of Delaware, a member of the inaugural class at the Milford facility. The Kitchen School is a 12-week culinary training program designed for adults with disabilities. This Seaford resident and mom of three is aware that she doesn’t look disabled, noting that she’s all too familiar with that comment. “You just can’t judge. I’m disabled,” she said. “But I’m so happy to be here ..read more

Thanks to coaching, encouragement, and ongoing support from Marilyn, the Food Bank of Delaware’s Stand By Me coach, a Wilmington mother of five has nearly navigated the steps to home ownership. And what a journey it’s been. Jessica, a dialysis technician, says she connected with Marilyn a couple of years ago. “When I met her, I wasn’t working. My credit was beyond bad. I couldn’t get a loan. I was referred to her, and she first helped me clean up my credit and get a job.” Marilyn Ramirez, one of the Food Bank of Delaware’s Stand By Me financial coaches, is pleased with Jessica’s progress. “She ..read more

Donna Bailey, from left; Maggy McCole, and Stephanie McDonough are among the volunteers at St. John the Apostle Food Pantry in Milford. One of the Food Bank of Delaware’s long-time partner agencies – St. John the Apostle Food Pantry – has changed the way it’s serving neighbors who live with food insecurity. When people come to the pantry from 10 a.m. – noon on Mondays or Fridays, they can decide what items they want in their bag on that day – so they don’t receive food they don’t need or want.  Stephanie McDonough, pantry supervisor, explained that until a few weeks ago pantry volunteers ..read more