One of the drop off locations in a previous Bucks-Mont food drive organized by Magellan Behavioral Health. (Courtesy of Magellan Behavioral Health)
Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania, Inc. (Magellan) is coordinating the 3rd Annual Bucks-Mont Food Drive from Sept. 16 through Nov. 1, 2024, in collaboration with Bucks County Behavioral Health/Developmental Programs, Bucks County Human Services Division and Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. The Bucks-Mont Food Drive will aim to collect 3,000 pounds of food and non-food donations.
Bucks County Opportunity Council (BCOC) will receive all donations collected in Bucks County and the MontCo Anti-Hunger Network will receive all Montgomery County donations. Magellan currently administers behavioral health benefits throughout Pennsylvania with HealthChoices contracts in Bucks, Cambria, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Northampton counties.
Food and non-food donation suggestions are indicated below. There is also a list of 15 drop off locations across both counties, including several police departments, hospitals, libraries, and community locales.
“BCOC is proud to partner with organizations like Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania and the Bucks County government to fight hunger. Right now, in Bucks County, we help feed our community through over 75 food pantries and direct distributions. In our county alone, over 40,100 individuals face food insecurity. This support is critical to ensure families receive enough to eat every day,” says Elizabeth Zbinden, food program manager for Bucks County Opportunity Council.
Shannon Isaacs, executive director for the MontCo Anti-Hunger Network, commented, “It is because of partners like Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania that we are able to support our network of over 70 food pantries and free meal providers. Hunger is growing rapidly in recent years, with a 60% increase in food pantry visits last year, and with it the urgency to act to address hunger. Each donation also helps create awareness, reminding all of us that we play an important role in eliminating hunger from our communities.”
Jim Leonard, CEO of Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania, added, “We appreciate this continued effort to work in close collaboration with both the BCOC and the MontCo Anti-Hunger Network to address the ever-growing issue of food insecurity, and we are grateful for the coordination with the 15 drop-off locations across both Bucks and Montgomery counties. Please stop by our drop-off locations as often as you can with donations during this 3rd annual Food Drive.”
Food items in most need:
Baking items (flour, sugar, baking powder, etc.)
Beans
Boxed drinks (juice, milk – dairy and non-dairy)
Breakfast foods (Cereal, Pancake mix, Coffee, Tea)
Canned soups, vegetables, fruit
Canned/jar nuts, peanut butter, dried fruit, jelly
Condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, etc.)
Ensure
Flour (Almond, All-Purpose, Masa, etc.)
Gluten-free foods
Kosher and Halal foods
Oils (Canola, Olive, Avocado, Flaxseed, etc.)
Pasta (regular, wheat, gluten-free)
Pasta meals (Knorr, Mac & Cheese, Pasta-roni, etc.)
Regional foods (Southeast Asian, Latin American, etc.)
Rice (White, Brown, Jasmine, etc.)
Sugar-free foods
Non-food items in most need:
Pull up diapers (2T, 3T, 4T, etc.)
Diapers (large sizes 5, 6, 7)
Feminine hygiene products
Razors
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Drop-off locations:
(Bucks County) Bucks County Administrative Office, Main Entrance, 55 East Court Street, Doylestown
(Bucks County) Bucks County Justice Center, 100 N. Main Street, Doylestown
(Montgomery County) Indian Valley Public Library, 100 East Church Avenue, Telford
(Montgomery County) Jefferson Lansdale Hospital, Main Lobby, 100 Medical Campus Drive, Lansdale
About Magellan Health
Magellan Health, Inc. supports innovative ways of accessing better health through technology, while remaining focused on the critical personal relationships that are necessary to achieve a healthy, vibrant life. Magellan’s customers include health plans and other managed care organizations, employers, labor unions, various military and governmental agencies and third-party administrators. For more information, visit MagellanHealth.com.
