Volunteers practiced social distancing while distributing food to residents in need Tuesday afternoon at the Old Goshenhoppen Reformed Church in Upper Salford. The transaction was completed next to a pavilion at a building across the street from

the church, located at 2092 Church Road in the Woxall section of the township.

            Utilizing at least eight volunteers, the church hopes to deliver 12,000 meals provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. On Tuesday, 3,400 meals were distributed.

            "We're hoping to serve the people most at risk," Pastor Kevin Park said.

            According to Park, township officials asked the church to apply with the federal government to become a makeshift distribution center. He said its application was approved within two days.

            On Tuesday, church volunteers wearing protective masks passed out civilian Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), which were delivered three days earlier by 15 members of the Pennsylvania National Guard. According to Park, each container – approximately the size of a shoebox, containing shelf-stable food intended to last one week per person – was placed in the trunk of a vehicle. Drivers traversed a small loop, stopping briefly to speak with a volunteer before receiving the package, which includes a snack box.

            Participants are asked to make only one visit a week, according to the pastor. He said military-style MREs, which include a heating element, will be donated to homeless people.

            "We're trying to do it in good faith," Park said.

            The meal box contains chicken parmesan, beef stew, tuna vegetable salad, pasta and chicken pasta primavera. The snack box includes cookies, pop tarts, beans and hotdogs, raisins and animal crackers.

            The church wants to supplement the work of the Open Link, located in Pennsburg, and the Daily Bread Food Pantry in Collegeville. Church officials would prefer that the food goes to those most in need, according to Park.

            "We've gotten quite a response on Facebook," the pastor said Monday afternoon. "There's quite a financial need throughout the region caused by a high level of unemployment. "We're just hoping to help out."

            The historic church will pass out food boxes at 3:15 p.m. Friday. According to Park, the Upper Salford institution will continue passing out food every Tuesday and Friday until its supplies run out.