FRESH CONNECT

Fresh Connect is a free farmer’s market that brings fresh, healthy food to our hungry neighbors in Bucks County. It returns to the same location on the same day at the same time each week, providing reliable and needed food to the 54,000 Bucks County residents facing hunger, including 10.6% of all children.

DONATE

Make a donation using the form below.

VOLUNTEER

Volunteering at Fresh Connect is a rewarding experience. Each week volunteers help set up the market and distribute produce directly to those in need. 10-15 volunteers are needed at each market and contribute about two hours of time.  Both individual volunteers and corporate groups can participate. Individual volunteers can sign up by clicking the links below:

To volunteer in Bristol (Fridays) click HERE

To volunteer in Ottsville (Thursdays) click HERE

To volunteer in Warminster (Tuesdays) click HERE

If you would like to schedule a large group to volunteer at Fresh Connect, please contact Tim Philpot. You can reach Tim by email at timp@uwbucks.org or by phone at 215.949.1660 ext 104.

Fresh Connects helps people from Bucks County who are struggling with hunger and food insecurity. This includes low-income seniors on fixed incomes, families working minimum wage jobs that still can’t make ends meet, and those who are homeless. In 2020:

• 10,339 unique households have received fresh produce.
• 27,915 individuals were helped
• Over 1,209,000 lbs. of produce was distributed

Fresh Connect is making a big impact! People who visit Fresh Connect:

• Are cooking at home more
• Are making healthier food choices
• Report feeling healthier and more energetic

Any resident of Bucks County who is food insecure can participate.Advanced registration online is required. If you already have a keycard, simply start bringing it to all future distributions. Once your application has been approved, you will be given a keycard on-site at Fresh Connect. Only one person per income eligible household can participate and eligible families must earn 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). No ID or verification is needed and participation does not affect your government benefits. Please bring your own bags. For non-Bucks County residents, click here for a list of locations in the Delaware Valley where you can participate.

Fresh Connect Hours of Operation: Until further notice, due to COVID-19, Fresh Connect hours will be as follows, or until the food runs out:

Tuesdays in Warminster: 11 AM – 1 PM Thursdays in Ottsville: 10 AM – 12 PM Fridays in Bristol: 11 AM – 1 PM Fresh Connect is now a drive-through operation. Please be sure that your trunks are completely clear and free of materials so that staff can place the food in easily!

• Every Tuesday in Warminster 11AM- 1PM
  • Warminster Community Park, 1100 Veterans Way, Warminster, PA 18974
• Every Thursday in Ottsville: 10 AM - 1 PM
  • Intersection of 611 & 412 (Previously Thompson Auto), Ottsville, PA 18942
• Every Friday in Bristol: 11 AM - 1PM
  • Lower Bucks Campus of Bucks County Community College, 1304 Veteran's Highway, Bristol, PA 19007

What is the Weather Policy? Fresh Connect operates every week, rain or shine, except during severe weather. This includes actual temperatures below 32 degrees or feels like temperatures below 32 degrees, heat advisories or excessive heat warnings, heavy rain or snow, and thunder and lightning storms. It is our obligation to make the safety of our clients, volunteers, and staff our top priority. Closure announcements will be posted on our website, social media, and on the Fresh Connect phone line no later than 7 AM the day of the distribution that is being cancelled. Please visit bcoc.org or call 215-345-8175, Option 1, for Fresh Connect up-to-date closure information.

Rules for a Safe Drive-thru Distribution For vehicles representing multiple households, a keycard will need to be scanned for each household. Each individual household you pick-up for must register separately and provide you with their keycard. Each vehicle can pick up for a maximum of four (4) households. Please have your trunk or tailgate cleared so that food may be placed in safely and efficiently. Food will be place directly into the trunk of the vehicle. Driver’s windows must be down and with all occupants wearing face coverings. If you are unable to open your trunk or if it is not cleared, you will be asked to load your food independently. To minimize traffic and waiting times, please do not arrive more than 30 minutes before the distribution start time. If arriving prior to start time, staff are not responsible for maintaining line spots. In Warminster Community Park, park attendees have the right of way. Please do not block any pedestrian or bike walkways. Fresh Connect and the distribution organizers reserve the right to refuse service to individuals who do not comply with the rules and regulations established for each drive-thru food distribution.