Increasing access to nutritious food is crucial to improving the diets and overall health of our hungry neighbors.
Hunger means more than missing a meal. Vulnerable populations like children and the elderly experience serious issues when they don’t have access to nutritious foods. That’s why Fresh Connect – our free, mobile farmers market – brings healthy options like fresh produce, meat, and dairy to our food-insecure neighbors.
INCREASING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD
Fresh Connect returns to the same three locations in Bucks County each week, providing reliable hunger relief for families and seniors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we transformed Fresh Connect into an emergency food distribution program to meet our community’s most urgent needs.
The program is a collaboration of United Way of Bucks County, Bucks County Opportunity Council, St. Mary Medical Center, Rolling Harvest Food Rescue, and Philabundance. United Way of Bucks County funds Fresh Connect and donations to support the market should be made through UW Bucks.
HOW YOUR DOLLARS HELP
Thanks to your support, Fresh Connect served 300% more families during the pandemic, providing food for up to 1,500 households per week.
932,559
Pounds of fresh, healthy produce distributed through the Fresh Connect Markets in 2021.
29,577
Number of visits to Fresh Connect including every household registered for Fresh Connect in 2021.
5,856
Number of unique households served across all three of our Fresh Connect sites in Bucks County in 2021.
5+
Number of community partners and collaborators working together to bring Fresh Connect to people in Bucks County.
UNITED WE FIGHT. UNITED WE WIN.
Join us in changing lives in Bucks County for good by making a donation today.
Donations can be made online or by mailing a check to, United Way of Bucks County, 413 Hood Blvd., Fairless Hills, PA 19030.
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
- Are cooking at home more
- Are making healthier food choices
- Report feeling healthier and more energetic
On a mission to make fresh and free healthy food more accessible across Bucks County, our caring Fresh Connect partners offer highly nutritious, locally sourced, and free healthy food to those who need it most. Essential nutrition is an integral aspect of maintaining the health and wellbeing of our community, and we graciously thank everyone that can share in any way possible.
By helping us provide free healthy food to those in need, we are eliminating food insecurity in Bucks County by:
- Helping Low-Income Families Reduce Grocery Bills
- Providing Food Security to Seniors on Fixed Incomes
- Offering Healthier Options With Our Fresh Connect Partners
- Making Food Pickups Easily Accessible & Contact-Free