There are many great charities in Philadelphia supporting our city and surrounding counties. But if you’re looking for a charity in Philadelphia that really makes a difference with respect to food insecurity, consider supporting Philabundance.
Here are some of the reasons that your donation and support of Philabundance can help make an impact in the fight against hunger in the region.
They Accept Monetary Donations and Food
There’s more than one way to make a charitable donation to Philabundance. You can donate money or you can donate food. They accept donations of any size.
They also deliver millions of meals every year to those in need throughout the nine counties they serve.
You Can Give Your Time
Are you the type that likes to put your boots on the ground? Then Philabundance is for you! Volunteers are the heart and soul of the organization, spending tens of thousands of hours volunteering each year.
You can help prepare meals at the Philabundance Community Kitchen or sort canned goods at their South Philly warehouse, with opportunities for solo volunteers and groups of families, friends, or colleagues. Philabundance’s work goes beyond feeding those experiencing food insecurity – they even have supporting programs like their “Notes of Sunshine” project through which they foster community and uplift morale among seniors.
They Rescue Food
In the United States, nearly 40% of food produced ends up getting thrown away. This amounts to 145 billion meals.
Through the Retail Rescue program, Philabundance works with over 350 retail donors in the greater Philadelphia area. This helps to ensure that quality surplus food ends up on our neighbors’ dinner tables instead of the landfill. These donors range from high-volume fulfillment centers to your local supermarket.
Over 17 million pounds of food is distributed per year via the Retail Rescue program. That’s the equivalent of 687 tractor trailers of food! When placed end to end, those 687 tractor trailers would stretch from their Hunger Relief Center in South Philly to Independence Hall and back.
They Provide Job Training to Those in Need
In addition to relieving hunger now, Philabundance is committed to ending hunger for good. One way they do this is through a 16-week culinary vocational training program. The Philabundance Community Kitchen provides job training and employment opportunities to those interested in culinary careers.
The best part is that enrollment in the Philabundance Community Kitchen is free to those who qualify. Visit their website for more details about the workforce development program.
They Support Feeding America’s Healthy Pantry Initiative
Those affected by food insecurity are more likely to purchase inexpensive and unhealthy food items in order to get the most out of their budget. This is a cycle that compounds the adverse effects of food insecurity.
Philabundance works with Feeding America’s HPI, or Healthy Pantry Initiative, helping to spread healthy foods and beverages as well as information about chronic diseases, with the goal of improving healthy living. This initiative doesn’t just encompass Philabundance, but extends to 40 partners across Southeastern Pennsylvania.
It’s Not Just a Charity in Philadelphia
When you donate to Philabundance, you’re not just helping to fight hunger in the City of Brotherly Love. Philabundance has a broader service area that includes nine counties in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. You can learn more about the areas they serve on their website.
This Just Scratches the Surface: Learn More on Their Website
Do you want to learn more about the impact Philabundance makes on its service area? You can learn more on their website about how to make donations, how to donate food, or volunteer time, the impact their work is making, and what initiatives they’ve undertaken to fight hunger in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey. Visit their website or get in touch with them directly to learn more about how you can get involved.
