By Jay Sorgi • Posted March 2, 2026

Catholic Charities of Philadelphia’s Nutritional Development Services (NDS) has received a truckload of needed groceries to help individuals and families facing food insecurity throughout Philadelphia and its suburban counties, all through an ecumenical partnership in celebration of America’s 250th birthday.

As part of the JustServe/America250 initiative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the truck with about 40,000 pounds of food arrived at the NDS warehouse in Eddystone, Delaware County Thursday morning, Feb. 26.

The food will be distributed to 50 food cupboards operated by Catholic Charities throughout the five counties of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

“At the end of last year, Catholic Charities of Philadelphia was approached by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about working together. One of the things that we talked about when we sat down was food,” said NDS Executive Director Lizanne Hagedorn.

“It’s a wonderful way for our churches to work together and help people, and the welfare of people is very important as part of the tenets of their faith, as well as ours.”

This food delivery is one of 250 that the America250 initiative will deliver across the United States.

It is the third time that Catholic Charities and the Philadelphia-area Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have partnered in such a food delivery project, with the COVID-19 pandemic leading to their first partnership in 2020.

“This work reflects our commitment to help individuals through principles of self-reliance and service,” said Blaine Maxfield, managing director of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Welfare and Self-Reliance Services.

“These programs are far-reaching and rooted in compassion, designed to lift individuals, families, and communities during times of greatest need.”

“This is really kind of exciting, because it’s not a time of crisis per se, but really a celebration. We’re in a country where we’re allowed to practice whatever faith we believe in,” Hagedorn said.

She added that dialogue on ways to expand charitable and volunteer partnerships has continued since the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints constructed the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple in 2016, located across the Vine Street Expressway from the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Center City.

“There was an invitation to have Archbishop Chaput at the time, as well as all of us who were employees, come tour their new temple before it opened,” Hagedorn said. “There was a real openness to combining for good, and that dialogue has continued since then.”

The food delivery’s connection with nationwide celebrations of the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence brings even more meaning, as helps to serve America’s birthplace in Philadelphia and the surrounding area.

“It’s the cradle of liberty,” said NDS Community Resource Director Donna Romero. “That’s what we’re known for, right? The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. What better way to show brotherly love?”

Some of the food delivered to the Eddystone warehouse reflects how families are trying to stretch their food budgets.

“Peanut butter, pasta and flour: That’s something I’ve been seeing as I go out to the food cupboards,” Romero said. “Every school has a canned food drive, so we have cans for days, but our people really love to cook and bake like everybody does. They want essentials. Things like flour and pasta are going to be really helpful for them.”

NDS’ delivery driver will redistribute the food to the 50 partnering food cupboards throughout 2026, part of how Catholic Charities of Philadelphia meets the needs of hundreds of thousands of people throughout the year.

“That could be me. That could be any of us,” Romero said, citing a conversation she had with a parish administrator who was volunteering at a food cupboard.

“This woman works at the church full time and she has a son in college. She said, ‘The minute my son turned 18, (federal officials were) saying his benefits would be cut.’ He was still in high school, not working. A few months later, they checked in and asked if he was working, and he’s a full-time college student,” Romero added.

“That was a real wake-up call for me that she is trying to figure out how to feed her family. She helps out at the food cupboard. She also benefits from the food cupboard as well now.”

The NDS team has also witnessed that the need for food is increasing, but not as many people are coming to food cupboards, particularly in areas where ICE has grown its presence.

“Families are afraid to leave their homes,” Romero said. “These cupboards are trying to rethink (distribution). Instead of having our open food pantry hours, how can we get the food to these people?”

Last week’s food delivery and the America250 partnership with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one way Catholic Charities acts as “a stepping stone to help people be their best selves,” Hagedorn said