WARRINGTON, Pa. (WLVT) - This Christmas, a different Mr. Claus came to town.
John Clauss, that is. (It’s pronounced the same.)
He’s a Bucks County native who saw need in his Warrington community on the border of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, even though the Philly suburbs have a reputation as affluent areas.
“There’s a lot bigger need than I ever thought there was,” Clauss said.
Despite being among the wealthiest counties in Pennsylvania, Montgomery and Bucks Counties have food insecurity rates of 9.5 percent and 8.4 percent respectively, according to nonprofit Feeding America.
Tens of thousands of people struggle to afford healthy food.
“[People] say, ‘You work, you’ve got four kids, you’re probably fine,’” said Warminster resident and single father of four Dan Healey. “Well, we’re not.”
After discussing this problem with a friend over coffee in 2012, Clauss decided to cook up some holiday meals for people in need. And so FEAST—Feeding Everyone At Special Times—was born.
Clauss served 100 Thanksgiving meals that year. Six years later, FEAST distributes thousands of meals several times a year, but primarily for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. This Christmas they distributed 1,600 meals to around 1,200 people.
Clauss said he had mixed feelings about being able to feed more people: “Fortunately FEAST is growing. Unfortunately, FEAST is growing.”
Volunteers boxed individual meals for pickup at St. Robert’s Church in Warrington on Dec. 23. The only requirement to get some: walking through the door.
“Turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole. Liscio’s Bakery donates a lot of fresh bread, pies that everybody gets,” Clauss said. “The whole kit and caboodle, shall we say.”
Clauss stressed the importance of serving fresh food because food insecurity isn’t the same as having no food. Rather, it means a lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy lifestyle.
“They may have eaten on Christmas, but maybe they ate peanut butter and jelly or hot dogs,” Clauss said. “Now they’re going to get a good, fresh meal.”
Food insecurity can be especially difficult for families during the winter holidays, which often focus around large meals. Dan Healey said he sometimes struggles working a full time job while taking care of four children, and the added pressure of cooking holiday meals and buying Christmas presents exacerbates his stress.
“Trying to support the kids, feed them, clothe them. With just my income, it’s very challenging,” he said.
But for the hundreds of families that FEAST served, having a proper Christmas dinner was one less thing to worry about this year.
“When there are churches and organizations like this that help out in your challenging times, it really makes a difference and makes you appreciate the people around you,” Healey said.
In addition to food, FEAST now offers free coats to those who need them. Their coat drive got a huge boost this year, when Macy’s Clothes 4 Souls program donated 1,000 brand new coats.
“This relationship with Clothes 4 Souls is potentially a really big game changer to help not only people right close to here, but the whole region,” said Clauss.
Clauss hopes to work with other organizations to keep expanding the program.
The next meal distribution is scheduled for Easter. While Clauss said he doesn’t need more volunteers to work FEAST events, the organization accepts donations. You can donate
here.
If you’re interested in getting a meal, you can sign up for the next distribution
here.
