News

COVID-19 Update: Assistance for Families and Individuals in Need

Food insecurity concerns have been escalating throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and Jenkintown Borough would like to provide everyone with very helpful information to help support anyone struggling with food insecurity during this difficult time. 

Below is today’s press release from Governor Tom Wolf reminding Pennsylvanians that public benefit programs are available to assist families and individuals during this public health crisis, along with a list of local food cupboard donation and distribution sites AND more helpful community resources.

Governor Tom Wolf, April 18th, 2020 Press Release “Access to Food Assistance, Healthcare through Safety-Net Programs Available During COVID-19”

Programs include: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Individuals and families in need of assistance should contact their local food bank through Feeding PA or Hunger-Free PA to find a food pantry or other distribution site in their community. The United Way of Pennsylvania and the 211 program can also connect people and families to local resources that can help during the public health crisis.

DHS encourages the public to take advantage of the ability to submit applications for all of these programs online at www.compass.state.pa.us. Individuals with a smartphone can also download the mobile app, MYCOMPASS PA, which is available at the App Store or Google Play Store.  Applications by mail are also acceptable or they can be dropped off at any County Assistance Office, which are closed to the public but equipped with drop boxes for this purpose. Clients in Philadelphia with questions or information to report about their case should call the Philadelphia Customer Service Center at 215-560-7226. Clients in all other counties can call the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930.

Pennsylvanians can also apply for Medical Assistance by phone by calling the Consumer Service Center at 1-866-550-4355.

EBT payments are still scheduled to occur during the closure and activated EBT cards can still be used as usual at ATMs and in stores at point-of-sale machines if the client has a balance. Balance and transaction inquiries, as well as EBT card replacement, can be requested from DHS’s EBT contractor, Conduent, at 888-328-7366.

RELATED:
Gov. Wolf Announces Nearly $16 Million in Funding for Pennsylvania Food Banks 4/18/20
Emergency SNAP Benefit Distribution… Local Feeding Programs Available 4/16/20
Wolf Administration Directs Families to Emergency Food Assistance During COVID-19 Mitigation 3/17/20

Food Distribution / Donations

Share Food Program (serving Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties)

Jenkintown United Methodist Church Food Cupboard
328 Summit Ave., Jenkintown, PA 19046; (215) 274-5720

  • Gloves and masks are greatly needed. Call to donate.
  • Monetary donations ONLY right now. Here are several ways to donate: 1) Make a check payable to Jenkintown Food Cupboard and send it to the address above; 2) Donate via PayPal to Jenkintownfoodcupboard@gmail.comcreate new email; and 3) Donate electronically through this link.
  • Distribution times: Saturdays in April, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Drive-through pick-up only: Enter the driveway on Walnut St., stay in a single line and move forward until a volunteer comes to your car. Give your name to the volunteer. Inside volunteers will prepare your food bags and bring them out to your car. Please stay in your car until the volunteer has returned to the building, and then you may get out of your car and put the food in your car.
  • If you are unable to drive to the food cupboard to pick up your food, please call (215) 274-5720 to determine if you are eligible for a food delivery.

Beth Sholom Congregation Mitzvah Food Pantry
8231 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027

  • Distribution hours: Wednesdays.
  • Food stores are very low. Please call (215) 887-1342 for guidance on what and when to donate, and how to receive distributions.

Lamott AME Church Food Cupboard
1505 West Cheltenham Ave., Elkins Park, PA 19027; (215) 782-1165

  • Donation and distribution hours are 9 to 11 a.m. every second and fourth Saturday. Please bring proof of address and picture ID if possible.
  • The Lamott AME Church Food Cupboard will welcome any item that is not expired.
  • If you have an immediate need, call Jackie Craig at (215) 432-7858. She will drop off food.

Inter-Faith Food Cupboard at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
1250 Easton Road, Roslyn PA 19001 (brick building behind Living Word Lutheran Church); (267) 318-0607

  • Donation and distribution hours: Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Donations are accepted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Food is distributed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; the last customer will be served at 12:45 p.m.
  • Monetary donations can be sent to The Interfaith Housing Alliance offices at 31 S. Spring Garden St., Ambler, 19002. The check should be made out to the parent nonprofit Interfaith Housing Alliance, but the memo blank must specify “For ‘Interfaith Food Cupboard'” if the donor wishes their gift to be used for food cupboard operations.
  • They are in need of: brown paper grocery bags; reusable grocery bags; brown paper lunch bags; individually wrapped breakfast and lunch items such as juice boxes, oatmeal or cereal bowls; cereal/protein/granola bars; peanut butter or cheese crackers; fruit snacks; pretzels; breakfast cereals; Hamburger Helper; tuna; peanut butter and jelly; canned beans, any kind; pasta and pasta sauce; canned diced tomatoes; canned pasta, like Chef Boyardee; canned peas and carrots; canned mixed vegetables; flour; sugar; cooking oil; coffee; tea; condiments such as salad dressing, mayo and ketchup; and boxed rice side dishes.

Philabundance
3616 South Galloway Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148; (215) 339-0900

Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard
150 N. Main St., P.O Box 367, Ambler, PA 19002 (215) 628-3002 

  • Two locations: The Ambler address above and the North Hills address, which serves only those in the 19038 zip code: North Hills Community Center, 212 Girard Ave., North Hills, PA 19038.
  • Donation drop off hours for Ambler: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please do not enter the building – ring the doorbell, and they will come out to pick up donations from your vehicle. Donation drop-off hours for North Hills: Tuesdays from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
  • Distribution hours for Ambler: Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9:15-11 a.m. Distribution hours for North Hills: Thursdays from 9-11 a.m. All families must show a photo ID and proof of household income to receive service.
  • To donate financially: 1) Contribute cash or a check made out to the Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard, Inc. to the address above; 2) Donate through the United Way of Southeastern PA, account #14224; or 3) Donate through paypal.com, escript.com or justgive.org.
  • Donation wish list: ground coffee, teabags and juice boxes; snacks for children; macaroni and cheese; pasta sauce; soup — Progresso and/or Chunky preferred; canned chicken, tuna and salmon; gravy and broth; shelf-stable juice such as apple or orange; baked beans; boxed mashed potatoes; boxed rice; and laundry detergent

Caring for Friends
12271 Townsend Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154; (215) 464-2224 
Caring for Friends provides food and friendship to homebound and medically compromised seniors, kids, and families across the five counties of Greater Philadelphia.

Getting to Essential Destinations

TransNet continues to provide transportation for consumers wearing masks to essential destinations, including grocery stores, medical facilities, pharmacies and essential workplaces. Contact TransNet at 215-542-RIDE with questions or to schedule an essential trip.

Pennsylvania Office of Unemployment Compensation 
COVID-19 Scenarios & Benefits Guide

Sign up for AlertPA

It’s a text notification system for health, weather and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.
Abington-Jefferson Health is accepting medical supply and plasma donations to aid in the COVID-19 outbreak.  For more information on how you can help, please visit their website.
The Borough continues to encourage everyone to follow the Governor’s latest “Stay at Home Order” as well as the  CDC guidelines including hand washing, social distancing and covering of your cough/sneezes.

Thank you all!  Stay safe and be well.