Catholic Charities of Philadelphia celebrated and blessed a new warehouse in Folcroft on Oct. 21 that will help expand food distribution efforts serving thousands of people facing food insecurity across the Philadelphia region.
The 2,785 square-foot facility is the first warehouse dedicated exclusively to its Community Food Program and is expected to improve the organization’s ability to receive, store, and distribute food donations.
“Today is about much more than a building. It’s about a shared commitment as the Catholic Church of Philadelphia to care for our neighbors and ensure that those who are struggling have access to one of life’s most basic necessities, food,” said Heather Huot, executive vice president of CCoP,
Philadelphia Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre blessed the new warehouse during a dedication that included music from a choir from Delaware County’s own Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School.
Drawing on the Gospel account of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, Bishop McIntyre said the ministry reflects Christ’s concern for those in need and the warehouse will help do “exactly what the Lord Jesus did on that day in that desolate place.”
>>>Photos: Catholic Charities Blesses New Warehouse for Community Food Program
The warehouse replaces a previous space in Bensalem. While similar in size, improved storage configurations and loading docks will allow the program to receive and distribute significantly more food.
“This new space allows us to receive food so much easier due to the loading docks. We did not have them in our previous space,” said Lizanne Hagedorn, executive director of Catholic Charities’ Nutritional Development Services (NDS). “What it will do is allow our driver to be more efficient in this space, take advantage of more donations and provide more of a variety of food.”
Catholic Charities’ Community Food Program distributed the equivalent of 2.2 million meals in 2025, part of the more than 8 million meals provided to people facing food insecurity in the Philadelphia region.
Donna Romero, the NDS community resource director, said the search for a new facility took less than a year.
Catholic Charities partnered with the Henderson Group, which owns the industrial park where the warehouse is located, and moved into the space in September, all with the help of donors like the Riley Family Foundation, represented by Barbara Riley at the grand opening and prayer service.
The Riley Family Foundation generously supports the Community Food Program through investments in food purchases, racking for the warehouse, and a forklift that will help move and distribute supplies in the new space efficiently.
“Your generosity has helped to transform this space from an empty box to a functioning warehouse with shelves, serving the needs of our sisters and brothers,” Huot shared.
The warehouse also carries forward the legacy of Patrick Temple-West, who led NDS from its founding in 1971 until his death in 2009. His crucifix was blessed by Bishop McIntyre and will hang inside the facility.
“At Catholic Charities, we are guided by the gospel and by the belief that every person is created in the image and likeness of God,” said Huot. “That conviction calls us to recognize the dignity of every individual and to respond with compassion when our neighbors are in need.”
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