On a dreary Monday morning outside Fairgrounds Farmers Market in Muhlenberg Township, workers from Niagara Bottling joined volunteers from across the greater Reading area to distribute 400 family kits packed with shelf‑stable food, fresh produce, cases of water, daily essentials and other resources.
The effort, called a resource rally, was organized by Niagara Cares — the philanthropic arm of Niagara Bottling — in partnership with Feed the Children and Helping Harvest.
Niagara operates a bottling plant just a few miles away, and plant director Mark H. Goucher said the company sees the event as part of its responsibility to the community it serves. Each kit was designed to support a family of four.
The need, organizers stressed, is urgent. Nearly one‑third of households in Reading live below the poverty line, and rising costs for food, transportation, housing and energy continue to strain already‑tight budgets.
Jay Worrall, Helping Harvest president, and Madeline Foster, program manager for Feed the Children, said the rally reflects a growing demand for assistance across Berks County.
Among local leaders also turned out to support the effort were Kevin Lerch, vice president of the Muhlenberg Township commissioners, and Crystal Harris, community outreach coordinator for state Sen. Judy Schwank.