Milford business community hears how to help hungry neighbors at "Sunrise Seminar" Tuesday! - Milford LIVE! - Local Delaware News, Kent and Sussex Counties

Tuesday’s “Sunrise Seminar” in Milford offers a timely chance to learn what local organizations are doing—and what neighbors can do—to reduce hunger close to home.

Tuesday’s “Sunrise Seminar” hosted by the Greater Milford Chamber offers insight into what the Food Bank of Delaware is doing to reduce hunger close to home.

MILFORD, Del. (Oct. 26, 2025) —As grocery prices and housing costs continue to squeeze family budgets heading into the holidays, Tuesday’s “Sunrise Seminar” in Milford offers a timely chance to learn what local organizations are doing—and what neighbors can do—to reduce hunger close to home.

Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Milford, the Oct. 28 session will run 8–9 a.m. at the Milford Place Bistro, 500 S. DuPont Blvd. The featured speaker is Trudy Pechin, Kent/Sussex Counties program coordinator for the Food Bank of Delaware’s L.O.G.I.C. workforce training program. Organizers say the conversation will center on food insecurity, workforce development and how employers, volunteers and civic groups can collaborate to build community resilience.

Pechin works directly with adults seeking a stable career path through L.O.G.I.C.—short for Logistics, Operations, General Warehousing and Inventory Control—which provides free training, certifications and job placement support for warehousing and distribution careers. Chamber officials say that connection to employment is increasingly vital: steady work helps families avoid the difficult tradeoffs—rent vs. groceries, prescriptions vs. utilities—that often lead to food pantry visits.

Founded in 1981, the Food Bank of Delaware operates out of Newark and Milford, distributing food through mobile pantries and community closets while offering nutrition education, SNAP outreach, and job training in culinary arts and logistics. The Milford facility at 102 DE Veterans Blvd. serves as a regional lifeline for lower Kent and Sussex counties, pairing immediate food assistance with programs that help households get back on their feet.

The chamber’s monthly sunrise series spotlights local leaders and initiatives that affect the Milford area. With the holiday season approaching—a period when demand typically rises—business owners and residents will hear practical ways to help: hosting workplace food drives, volunteering on distribution days, supporting job-training cohorts with mock interviews or transportation, and referring people who could benefit from programs like L.O.G.I.C.

While Tuesday’s discussion is not a fundraiser, organizers say it’s meant to equip attendees with facts and options. Employers can learn how to partner with the Food Bank on talent pipelines; faith and civic groups can plan service projects; and individuals can better understand how to connect friends or coworkers to resources before a short-term setback becomes a crisis.

The Food Bank emphasizes that hunger rarely stems from a single cause. Rather, it’s the result of compounding challenges—reduced hours at work, a car repair, a medical bill—that strain already tight budgets. By tying food assistance to workforce preparation, the organization aims to meet urgent needs and build long-term stability at the same time.

Attendance is open to community members and chamber partners. For details, contact the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Milford or the Food Bank of Delaware.

If You Are Interested

What: October Sunrise Seminar (Chamber of Commerce for Greater Milford)
When: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, 8:00–9:00 a.m.
Where: Milford Place Bistro, 500 S. DuPont Blvd., Milford, DE
Topic: Food insecurity, workforce development and community resilience
Guest Speaker: Trudy Pechin, Kent/Sussex Program Coordinator, Food Bank of Delaware L.O.G.I.C.
Contact: The Greater Milford Chamber of Commerce for more information about the event and membership

About the Food Bank of Delaware

Founded: 1981
Mission: A community free of hunger through food distribution, job training, nutrition education and advocacy
Locations: 222 Lake Drive, Newark; 102 DE Veterans Blvd., Milford
Programs: Mobile pantries and food closets; SNAP outreach; culinary and logistics training (including L.O.G.I.C.); volunteer and donation opportunities

Editor’s note: Readers interested in volunteering, donating or learning more about job-training cohorts can contact the Food Bank of Delaware or visit its Milford site to explore current needs and schedules.