Good Samaritan Food Pantry helps feed the region's hungry

PAOLI, Pa. (WPVI) -- As the holiday season approaches, 6abc is once again partnering in the region's largest food drive and, in a series of special reports, we are focusing on the effort to end hunger in our area.

Every week, Philabundance helps 90,000 people in our region put food on the table. And one in six are senior citizens, who are often on a fixed income with limited resources.

Joseph D'Ginto of Honeybrook, Pa., is a self-described people person, a man who likes to pay it forward with smiles.

He is devoted to his longtime love, Carol, who's in the very early stages of dementia.

"She's just made my life beautiful," he said.

Money is tight, so Joe goes to the Good Samaritan Food Pantry on Lancaster Avenue in Paoli every other Thursday.

It's where he stocks up on everything from soups to meats

Good Samaritan is one of 350 agencies in the region that work with Philabundance. They serve more than 200 families.

"It's what we consider the Main Line, and it really shows that hunger hits every zip code in the country," said Stefanie Arck-Baynes.

Joe has spent a lifetime learning how to stretch a dollar. His mom passed away when he was just 11 years old, leaving his father to raise 6 children.

"Pop was rarely ever home. We more or less had to fend for ourselves," Joe said.

He got his first job at age 13 and, though he's officially retired now, he's been working ever since.

That includes dishwashing jobs and janitorial maintenance.

"I've been a caddy off and on all of my life for 52 years," he added.

Now 75, he's grateful to Philabundance for making his golden years a little less of a struggle.

"It really does help," he said.

If you'd like to help seniors like Joe put food on the table, go to 6abc dot com to see the many ways you can Connect. Share. Give.