From a press release
More than 250 Chester families are invited to register for a free Grocery Pop-Up Market hosted by Covanta, operator of the Chester waste-to-energy facility that has served the area with sustainable materials management for 31 years, and Atlanta-based food waste management and hunger relief company, Goodr.
The two companies are proudly partnering once again, this time to combat food insecurity in the city of Chester. This free shopping experience will serve preregistered families a week’s worth of groceries, including fresh produce, bread, meat, eggs, dairy or dairy alternatives, shelf stable items and beverages. The event will take place on Saturday, May 6th at Boys and Girls Club of Chester (201 East 7th Street Chester, PA 19013) from noon – 2 p.m. Families can register using this link.
In Pennsylvania, 12.1 percent of residents live in poverty, while the rate in Chester, the oldest city in the state, stands at 30.4 percent according to 2021 data. Over the last several years, the population of food insecure children dropped by nearly 100,000 across the state, but it rose by over 1,000 in Delaware County.
According to the government, prior to 2021, food insecurity among children was steadily decreasing across the Pennsylvania but was already on the rise in Delaware County. Between 2017 and 2020, the rate fell from 16.4 percent of PA children to 13.1 percent but rose from 14.7 percent to 15.9 percent in Delco. The goal of Saturday’s Pop-Up Market is to offer families some relief from the ongoing burden of today’s rising food prices.
Covanta is committed to making a positive, significant difference by leading the charge to a carbon-negative future through waste-to-energy technology. Since 1992, the Chester facility has avoided landfilling nearly 30 million tons of waste, reducing greenhouse gases by over 27 million tons CO2 equivalent. It’s also generated over 10,500,000 MWh of green energy for local homes and businesses and recycled and recovered more than 785,000 tons of metal that would have otherwise been dumped into a landfill.
“I grew up with family in Chester, so I spent a lot of time here. My connection to this community is strong”, said Brittany Addison, Community Outreach Specialist. “At Covanta, we are relentless in our commitment to serve and partner alongside of this community. I’m particularly proud of the partnership between Covanta and Goodr because it provides fresh food to a community that is often overlooked. My work at Covanta is focused on creating a positive impact, and this partnership is just one example of Covanta’s commitment to Chester.”
Headquartered in Atlanta, Goodr, a sustainable waste management and hunger relief company that leverages technology and logistics to reduce food waste and fight hunger, was founded on the principle that food insecurity is not an issue of scarcity; it’s a matter of logistics. Goodr offers a variety of Hunger Relief and Food Waste Solutions, which include Surplus Food Recovery, Pop-Up Grocery Markets and Goodr Grocery Stores. Goodr operates nationwide with clients in industries ranging from food service and hospitality to arenas, universities, celebrities and more. To date, Goodr has served nearly 30 million meals to those in need and redirected 12 million pounds of food and organic material away from landfills.
“Goodr is honored to serve the families of Chester alongside Covanta this weekend,” Founder and CEO Jasmine Crowe-Houston says. “Our companies’ community impact and sustainability missions align perfectly, and we hope this event will be just the first of many in this region.”
