Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar in Newtown will prepare five nights of free, chef-made dinners in November for local families facing food insecurity or financial hardship.
The restaurant, located at the Village at Newtown Shopping Center, is partnering with the New Britain Food Pantry on the effort, Patch first reported. Each dinner will feed a family of four.
The program falls under Harvest's new initiative called GIVE. LOVE. SERVE. — "Farm to Family." The initiative aims to put the restaurant's kitchen and sourcing network to work for neighbors who need a hand.
Harvest owner Dave Magrogan said the effort comes down to using what the restaurant already has.
"If we can use our kitchens, talented chefs and resources to make life a little easier for a family going through a difficult time …" Magrogan said. "That is exactly what we should be doing."
Families won't need to apply to Harvest or prove their need separately. The food pantry will identify families it already serves who could benefit, keeping the process private.
"This isn't about asking a family to explain why they need help," Magrogan said. "It's simply about being a good neighbor."
The New Britain Food Pantry is a volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) organization in Warrington Township. It supports neighbors across the Central Bucks and New Hope-Solebury school districts, and no appointment is needed to visit. The pantry runs entirely on volunteer labor, with helpers sorting deliveries, stocking shelves and greeting families.
Diners at Harvest Newtown can also pitch in during November. Guests will be invited to donate directly to the New Britain Food Pantry, with 100 percent of contributions going to the organization and the families it serves.
