A group of Upper Dublin High School students has been working on building community and distributing free meals as part of the activities of the new chapter of the national anti-hunger group Food Not Bombs, writes Emily Rizzo for WHYY.

The branch was formed in April 2021 and currently has around 15 active members, mostly from Upper Dublin. They come together every Thursday afternoon to cook and set up a table in Norristown on Saturday. They distribute groceries and meals to around 30 people, on average.

In addition to providing those in need with nutritious and appetizing vegetarian meals, they also have Narcan, hypodermic needles, and feminine hygiene products, as well as warm clothes.

As they eat together on Saturdays, they talk to Norristown residents about their most pressing needs and issues that connect their communities.

Most Food Not Bombs chapters operate with little cash and appreciate material donations. 

“It’s pretty clear that the services in Norristown are lacking,” said Max Segal, a 17-year-old senior at Upper Dublin High School. “There’s still a lot of hunger there.”

The group members are now hoping to grow the Food Not Bombs organization before they graduate.

Read more about Food Not Bombs in WHYY.