Heartwarming

Weekly Produce

Beginning with your generous donations, on April 18th KPC Buddhist Relief offered 1,221 lbs of beautiful fresh produce to nourish families in need, through the Upcounty Hub's Friday distribution in Montgomery Village.

Volunteers from from Extended Stay America hotel

It's a community effort. As soon as we unloaded at the Hub, a dozen volunteers - staff from Extended Stay America hotel - pitched in to fill 140 grocery bags with the varieties of fruits and vegetables.

Recipients lining up for the Hub’s food distribution.

Meanwhile, a couple of Hub staff were out distributing food at the trailer park. They want KPC Buddhist Relief donors to know that several people were already lining up just as their truck arrived. The staff let us know that the need is great in the community and that the recipients are always grateful for the gift of food.

Hub's Choice Pantry

That same day, we also donated 124 lbs of non-perishables to add to the Hub's Choice Pantry shelves: cooking oil, marinara sauce, organic juices, cans of soups, chicken breast and beef stew.

Until recently, the Pantry's clients had primarily been families who come monthly to also pick up free diapers. Most recently, the Hub has expanded access to the Pantry by other clients who are facing challenging situations. 

They include:

- people who have been displaced by evictions, fires/floods/gas explosions, 

- those lacking transportation

- families of children with disabilities

- instances of parental neglect

- families dealing with sudden loss of employment and,

- denial of SNAP renewal.

Also, the Hub has begun offering Nutrition Education classes and on the last of six sessions last week, the students were also able to access food staples at the Choice Pantry. 

Nutrition Education class at the Upcounty Hub

Nutrition Education students shopping at the Hub’s Choice Pantry

It is very heart-warming to see how the Pantry has grown to serve so many more families in need, within a short period of time. And to think that much of its growth began with a daily 100-200 lb donation of various foods and treats personally gifted by Jetsunma not too long ago!

Come partner with us. How? Become a Friend of KPC Buddhist Relief knowing that your generosity will nourish and nurture many lives in the community.