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Feed 160 families each week at Community Pantry in Reading

Help keep a free food pantry open for elderly neighbors in Reading.

🇺🇸 United States726 views
Karim Osama Haddad
Email verified
Reading
Since 2020, our volunteer team has run Community Pantry every Tuesday from the back of the old library basement. We started with 21 families, and now we feed 160 each week. Donations have dropped by about 38% this rainy season, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 20 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Reading market and keep every receipt. Each $55 feeds a family of four for a week. All of the funds go to groceries, fresh produce, and cold-storage costs. Where the $2,350 goes: • Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $1,100 • Fresh vegetables and fruit: $470 • Baby formula and diapers: $540 • Refrigeration and electricity: $240 I'll pay this kindness forward the moment I'm able to.

Updates from Karim

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  • Liliana B. Carlson 🇦🇺 · $100
  • Rodrigo Sebastião Prado 🇧🇷 · $100
  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $100
  • Emily Pena 🇺🇸 · $100
  • Amber G. Garrett 🇺🇸 · $100
  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $74
  • Bruno Edoardo Rossi 🇮🇹 · $67.50
  • Ubol Kulap Eiamsa-ard 🇹🇭 · $60
  • Víctor D. Ríos 🇺🇸 · $50
  • Julian D. Wallace 🇺🇸 · $41.50

    “Be well. My mother told me about this one. - Salem”

  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $37.50
  • Aaliyah Booker 🇺🇸 · $30
  • Isabela Bruna Rocha 🇧🇷 · $30
  • Daniel E. Peters 🇺🇸 · $25

    “Thought of Karim all day after reading this. - Tallahassee”

  • Abosede Chioma Fashola 🇳🇬 · $25

    “Hope this helps. Only $25 but hope it helps. - Enugu”

  • Jewel Rubel Chatterjee 🇧🇩 · $20
  • Leah L. Norris 🇺🇸 · $15
  • Sofia Holmgren 🇸🇪 · $15

    “Every little bit - Uppsala”

  • Anonymous 🇧🇩 · $15
  • Maria C. Soriano 🇵🇭 · $10

Reviews

1.4(7 reviews)

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

  • Pavel Stanislav Gusev🇷🇺Verified donor
    Honest and trustworthy

    The support I received was beyond what I expected. Not only did they help with the immediate need, but they also provided guidance for long-term solutions. I'm forever grateful.

  • Kazimierz Konrad Zając🇵🇱Verified helper
    Practical and effective help

    I had a complex problem and this person helped me navigate it step by step. Their expertise combined with their kindness made all the difference.

  • Bisma Tayyaba Lashari🇵🇰Verified helper
    Exactly what I needed

    This is what community support looks like. They didn't just offer generic advice; they provided personalized help tailored to my specific situation.

  • Musa Chidi Falana🇳🇬Verified helper
    Practical and effective help

    The help I received was exactly what was described and more. This person follows through on their commitments and genuinely cares about making a positive impact.

  • Pieter Joubert🇿🇦Verified donor
    Quick response, great follow-up

    This helper is honest and transparent about what they can do. They didn't overpromise, but they did deliver excellent results. I would definitely trust them again.

  • Julia Irena Kowalczyk🇵🇱Verified donor
    Practical and effective help

    This experience has restored my faith in the goodness of people. The helper was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about my outcome.

  • Lúcia Márcia Melo🇧🇷Verified helper
    Genuine person with a big heart

    The difference this person made in my life cannot be overstated. They were patient, kind, and persistent in helping me find solutions. Truly exceptional.

Questions & comments

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  • Thinking of you. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Thinking of Reading!

    • Good luck. Great idea, hope you get there. My father had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. Greetings from Boulogne-Billancourt.

      • Hope it all works out, Karim. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry.

        • Thinking of you, Karim. Gave what I could, wish it was more. Don't be hard on yourself for asking. Love from Gwagwalada.

          • Hope you get there. My brother had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. Blessings.

            • hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. Put this on a community board in Rio de Janeiro this morning. All the best.

              $1,043.50 raised of $2,350

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