Rescue Mission Food Drive Aims to Shatter Records, Sets Goal of 100,000 lbs. of Food for Water Street Mission
Lancaster, PA (October 2022) – Water Street Mission is setting the bar high and hoping the generosity from our community will help set a new record for this year’s Rescue Mission Food Drive (RMFD) starting on November 1, 2022. Last year, Rescue Mission Food Drive broke all previous records, collecting 94,000 lbs. of food. This year’s goal is 100,000 lbs. before Christmas. The challenge comes as the Mission is seeing an increase in the number of people coming to its emergency shelter and in need of food outreach.
To help reach its food collection goal, Water Street Mission will once again partner with local businesses and individuals, with the goal of collecting 6,000 lbs. more than last year. The Rescue Mission Food Drive runs from November 1 to December 22. Food donations can be dropped off at Water Street Mission’s campus or at one of the 17 participating businesses. A full list of drop-off locations as well as a list of accepted items can be found at wsm.org/rmfd/.
Breaking last year’s records is not just a fun way to get the community together, it also has significant meaning for Water Street. Over the holiday season alone, the Mission provides 45,000 hot meals to men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in Lancaster. Food donations also impact Water Street Mission’s Outreach Center, which distributes 646,000 lbs. of groceries each year to thousands of neighbors in need.
This year, RMFD is especially important. Water Street has seen numbers in their Emergency Shelter and in their food outreach programs steadily increase throughout the year, possibly due to inflation and the rising cost of food. Typically, a sharp increase in emergency shelter guests begins in winter, but this year, the increase started during the summer months.
“For a combination of factors, we are seeing more guests in the summer and fall than in previous years, which is another reason why preparing for the winter is so important,” says Jack Crowley, President of Water Street Mission. “Rescue Mission Food Drive is coming at a critical time, and will really make a big impact on those who stay with us, not only because of all the meals it supplies but also because those meals help open the door to deeper services. Groceries or meals at Water Street help our guests realize they are still a part of a loving community, where they can get the services, like medical services, counseling, and more they need to get back on their feet again.”
Those who would like to support Water Street Mission through RMFD can drop off food at all participating drop-off locations, or at Water Street Mission’s campus. A full list of drop-off locations as well as a list of accepted items can be found at wsm.org/rmfd/.
About Water Street
Since 1905, Water Street Mission has provided an environment of hope and healing where at-risk men, women, and children in Lancaster County can find a hand-up and restoration with God. In addition to food and shelter, all guests have access to medical, dental, behavioral health, spiritual, and career support while on campus. For more information about the programs and services of Water Street Mission, visit WSM.org
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