Hundreds of students from various Catholic educational institutions will come together to package 1,500 care bags for Martha’s Choice Marketplace and Community Farm. This initiative is part of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's observance of National Catholic Schools Week (CSW), which has been celebrated annually since 1974. The event is scheduled for Thursday, January 30, 2025, at Father Judge High School for Boys’ new Career Pathways Academy building.

The theme for this year's CSW is "Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community," with a special focus on "Celebrating Vocations" on the designated day. Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez will lead the service activity alongside key figures such as Mrs. Heather Huot, Dr. James Black, Mr. Patrick Walsh, Mr. Eli Wenger, and Mr. Brian Patrick King.

Participants include students from Archdiocesan high schools, parish-based elementary schools, and schools of special education who will prepare care packages containing non-perishable items and handwritten notes with prayerful encouragement for those served by Martha’s Choice.

Martha’s Choice Marketplace operates as a ministry under Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and stands as Montgomery County's largest food pantry. Located in Norristown, it also runs Martha’s Community Farm in Audubon, where fresh produce is grown to supplement food distributions.

In 2023 alone, Martha’s Choice produced over 20,000 pounds of food across 25 different crops to aid families in need. They completed nearly 19,500 household distributions serving more than 16,000 individuals during the fiscal year ending June 30.

The upcoming event not only provides essential supplies but also offers students an opportunity to learn about their impact through talks by Mr. Walsh and Mr. Wenger.

For more information about Martha’s Choice Marketplace and its services, visit marthaschoicemarketplace.com/.