Chester Eastside
Welcome to the Chester Eastside website – we’re grateful you’re here! We hope you are able to find whatever you’re looking for in these pages: information about our people, programs, and progress – and how you might join and support our mission. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any unanswered questions. Thank you for coming!
Impact Stories
Throughout these pages you will find short videos with stories about the impact of our programs and services for the people we serve. Click on the picture to watch the video.
The Latest CEI Sun
You can use this link to read the latest edition of the CEI Sun, our random and sporadic newsletter.
Who and Where We Serve
The City of Chester
➢ founded in 1682 and covers six square miles – the oldest city in Pennsylvania
➢ during World War II 36,000 people employed in Chester, the total population is now 33,000
➢ 75% of residents are Black or African-American, 13% are White/Non-Hispanic, and 7% are
Hispanic
➢ placed under receivership in 2020 and declared bankruptcy in November 2022
Economy
➢ 30.8% of residents live below the federal poverty level – three times the national average
➢ Chester is in the poorest congressional district in Pennsylvania, and the 7th poorest in the
nation
➢ Chester has an 8.1% unemployment rate, compared to Delaware County (3.1%) and
Pennsylvania (3.6%)
Food Insecurity
➢ 33% of households in Chester combat food insecurity
➢ Chester is in the first congressional district which is the second hungriest district in the nation
(behind the Bronx)
Education
➢ the Chester-Upland School District placed under receivership in 2012
➢ The enrollment at Chester High School is 98% minority, 92% economically disadvantaged, and
has a 43% graduation rate
➢ 16% of students are proficient in reading, 0% in Math, and 5% in science
The Environment
➢ there are 11 industries that emit carcinogens in Chester
➢ each day 3,788 tons of trash, 900 tons of contaminated soil, 288 tons of medical waste, and 36
million gallons of wastewater come through the streets and sewers of Chester
Health
➢ 38.5% of children suffer with asthma, five times the national average
➢ 60% of children tested had blood lead levels over the CDC recommended maximum level
Unfortunately, 2025 was a record-setting year for our feeding programs…
286,561
MEALS SERVED
232,232
POUNDS OF FOOD DONATED
25,243
VOLUNTEER HOURS
Chester Eastside, Inc.
Physical Address: 301 East 9th St. Chester, PA 19013
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 36 Chester, PA 19016