VIDEO | “Packing and praying” to meet the need for food in Delaware | The Latest from WDEL News

An organization known for its “pack and pray” volunteer days is one of many that are attempting to combat food insecurity and food “deserts.”

The Harvest Outreach People Project, known as HOPP, now operates in all three Delaware counties. Its work also extends into Maryland. During “pack and pray” days, team members load produce grown by local farmers and purchased by HOPP into bags. Bags are then distributed during the following days among schools, churches, non-profit agencies and other organizations working in their communities.

HOPP is one of the latest organizations to get support from the Delaware Grocery Initiative and First State Food System Grant Program.

(appearing in the video: Harvest Outreach People Project Executive Director Tami Saunders; Delaware Division of Small Business Deputy Director Jaimie Watts)

“The demand, because of the economy at this time, has grown and has increased,” HOPP Executive Director Tami Saunders said. She added that their program benefits people who live paycheck-to-paycheck the most.

$60,000 from the DGI will be used to acquire additional produce to upgrade efforts to feed the community.

“We wish we didn’t need grants like these, but it’s so amazing to know that because we do need it, so many people are willing to step up,” DSB Deputy Director Jaimie Watts said.

Watts said in the current cycle, checks were presented to 26 organizations, totaling about $720,000 in all.

HOPP is also able to schedule periodic “drops” when supplies of one particular crop suddenly become available. It happened with pineapples and watermelons over the summer. Additionally, they teach people how to create healthy recipes out of the produce they may receive.

“We are called to take care of others and be light in a dark world,” Saunders said. “For us, we’re fulfilling the call that we’ve been given to be our brother’s keeper.”

 Get WDEL’s top stories sent right to your email.  Click here to signup for WDEL’s Afternoon Edition.

And get breaking news notifications sent right to your mobile device. Click here to download the WDEL app – which gives you easy on-the-go access to WDEL’s stream.