families need based on what they like and what is important to them,” Mr. Walsh says. Families typically shop at Martha’s Choice once a month and take home about 60 pounds of food, he says. The exact amount depends on each family’s size and income. The pantry receives food donations from super- markets, organizations, and businesses. Some people bring food from their gardens. The pantry also buys food with government funds. Martha’s Choice, which is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, depends on about 100 volunteers to get all the work done. The volunteers unpack food, stock shelves, and help people choose items. They also play with kids while their parents shop. Mr. Walsh, who used to be a middle school teacher, says he changed careers a few years ago so he could spend more time with his wife and three young children. Managing Martha’s Choice seemed like a good next step. “I always have liked people, and I like food,” he says. “I felt I could make a difference and help people.” He says he also learns a lot from his work about how to care for others. “To solve problems, it is important to really listen to people and try to understand them,” Mr. Walsh says. Patrick Walsh Helping to reduce hunger Many families turn to their community for food when times are tough and money is tight. They might have lost a job or been injured in an accident. Their home might have been destroyed in a fire. Or they might be working two or three jobs but not earning enough money to feed the family adequately. Every year, about 2,500 families—or about 9,000 people—in that type of difficult situation seek help at Martha’s Choice Marketplace in Norristown, Montgomery County. “A lot of families in our area, all over our region, all over our state have trouble getting enough food,” says Patrick Walsh, the food pantry manager at Martha’s Choice. Pineapples, carrots, tomatoes, plums, grains, and other healthy foods are offered by Martha’s Choice to people who experience hunger. The pantry is run like a supermarket, but the customers don’t pay. “People can shop and pick out what their 22