Octorara townlively.com
MAY 7, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXV • NO 10
Feeding the hungry Local student holds annual food drive BY FRANCINE FULTON
younger brothers, Wesley and Tyler. ven as a preschooler, Dylan This year’s Helping Hunger Houck understood there Food Drive began on April 7 was a way to help people in and will run through Thursday, need by collecting food for the May 8. On April 26, Dylan had hungry. a food drive for the second conNow more than a decade later, secutive year at the Parkesburg Dylan, the son of Jackie and Grocery Outlet, where he asked Thomas Houck of Gap, continues shoppers to donate items like that tradition each spring by peanut butter and jelly and holding a Helping Hunger Food snack food. Drive to benefit the Chester “People came in and purchased County Food Bank (CCFB). things, and we were able to do Jackie recalls Dylan’s first food a shopping trip while we were drive, which was the impetus there (using donation money),” for the annual effort. “We had a explained Dylan. “We filled lots of power outage, and boxes, and Grocery Dylan’s dad and I Outlet donated as were talking about well.” “People are people losing food On the previous hungry, in their refrigerwe e ke n d , D y l a n a t o r,” s h e s a i d . and his brothers and we need to “Dylan said they held a food drive at feed them.” could just go to Dutch-Way Farm Walmart and buy Market in Gap. more (food), but There was also a I told him not ever yone can food collection bin during the afford that.” food drive at E&E General ConShe said that 4-year-old Dylan tracting in Gap. was upset and crying and woke Food collected from this year’s up the same way the next morn- drive is scheduled to be delivered ing. “I had a conversation with to the CCFB on Friday, May 9. “I him and told him we could (col- work at Keller Williams in Exton, lect) food and take it to the food and we have a ‘Red Day.’ It’s bank,” said Jackie. where the agents go and serve in “It was a very small and mod- different ways,” Jackie explained. erate food drive,” Dylan added, “The last three years we have reporting that he collected 400 partnered with the food drive, pounds of food over two weeks. and we deliver the food on ‘Red Dylan, now 14 and an eighth- Day.’ There are agents who will g rader at West Fallow f ield take the day off and collect food, Christian School, has continued and they help us box it up and the drive ever since, donating deliver it to the food bank.” more than 42,000 pounds of Dylan pointed out that the food to the CCFB. food drive is always held in spring “For the 10th anniversary last in anticipation of the summer year, Dylan wanted to collect months. “We are basically fueling 10,000 pounds of food, but (families) up for summer,” he he got 13,099 pounds,” Jackie said. “A lot of kids are part of a said, noting that Dylan is often lunch program at school. They joined at the food drives by his eat breakfast and lunch every Dylan Houck (back, left) and his brothers, Tyler (back, right) and
See Food drive pg 6 Wesley (front), held a food drive at Dutch-Way Farm Market in Gap.
Parkesburg hosts Coffee Klatch Meetups BY FRANCINE FULTON
T h e Pa r k e s b u r g C o f fe e Klatch Meetup group formed in March of 2024 when a few friends gathered to enjoy beverages and some baked goods at a local coffee shop. Over the past year, the group has grown and evolved and now meets regularly for pizza and burger nights at local eateries. The group includes men and women of all ages who enjoy sharing good food and conversation while networking. Attendees hail not only from Parkesburg, but surrounding communities as well, including Coatesville and Cochranville. “We are still going stronger than ever after our first meetup 14 months ago,” said Kathi Rendall, the group’s founder. She noted that at each gathering, attendees are also asked to donate nonperishable in-date food items for the Octorara Area Food Cupboard. Currently, the group meets ever y other Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Gabe’s Pizza Place, 428 W. First Ave., Parkesburg. On the opposite weeks, burger nights are held on Thursdays at 5 p.m. at Victory Brewing Company, 3127 Lower Valley Road, Parkesburg. These events are subject to change, and the most-up-to-date information can be found on the group’s Facebook page. There are no fees to participate, and attendees may order food from the menu if they choose. During the events, the tables are pushed together so that See Coffee Klatch pg 5
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