SILO, a local nonprofit organization, has continued to have a powerful impact on the Oxford borough with its community support efforts, writes Gabbie Burton for Chester County Press.
For the past fourteen-years, SILO—an acronym for Serving, Inspiring, and Loving Others—has addressed food and housing insecurity in Oxford through food drives, community gardens, housing assistance, emergency services, and more.
In the last several years alone, the nonprofit has had a profound impact on the immediate community: the SILO community garden grew and donated over 1,500 pounds of food in 2024, and the organization paid over $18,000 in rent and utility bills to support over 120 individuals experiencing housing insecurity.
SILO’s work becomes more important each day with inflation and the national rise in living costs. 23.83 percent of Oxford’s population lives below the national poverty line, and families’ largest concerns are access to food and housing.
But even in times of uncertainty, SILO’s work affects both the immediate community and those within the organization.
SILO Executive Director Melissa Pacella has been involved in the organization since its beginnings. Pacella shared that the personal community connections are what makes SILO’s work most important.
“Our staff is great, our volunteers are amazing, and frequent interaction with people who are struggling keeps us moving forward, doing as much as we can for as long as we can,” she said.
Read more about SILO and its positive impact on the Oxford community in Chester County Press.
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