Philabundance

Philabundance is a non-profit food bank that serves the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley region of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the largest such organization in the region.[2]

Philabundance
Formation1984 (1984)
FounderPamela Rainey Lawler
TypeNon-profit food bank
Location
  • Philadelphia, PA
Region
Delaware Valley
Chief Executive Officer
Loree D. Jones
Senior Vice President, CIO
Melanie S. Cataldi
Senior Vice President, CDO
Sara Hertz
Senior Vice President, CPO
Stacey Behm
John Hollway
Chair
Alan E. Casnoff
Vice Chair
Noel Eisenstat
Vice Chair
Dixieanne James
Vice Chair
Pam Carter, PHDt
Board Secretary
Robert J. ."BJ" Clark
Vice Chair
Andrew Sandifer
Board Treasurer
AffiliationsFeeding America
Revenue (FY16)
US$48,163,024[1]
Expenses (FY16)US$48,003,360[1]
Staff (2015)
200[1]
Volunteers
16000[1]
Websitewww.philabundance.org

History

The organization was founded in 1984 by Pam Lawler. In the year 2005, it merged with The Greater Philadelphia Food Bank, and the new entity operates under the name Philabundance.[3][4]

Goals

The organization aims to drive hunger from our communities today and end hunger forever.

Organization

Philabundance serves 90,000 people each week, 30% of whom are children, 15% of whom are seniors, and others served include students, the working poor, veterans and single parents. It has its own programs, as well as a network of 350 agencies, including emergency kitchens, shelters and soup kitchens. As of 2017, 1 in 8 people in the U.S. face hunger while in our area, that number is 1 in 5, making hunger a crisis in the Delaware Valley on which we need all need to collaborate to eradicate.

Philabundance works with local grocers and farmers to rescue perfectly good food that would otherwise go to waste; in 2016, it rescued 10 million pounds of food for its neighbors in need. The organization also hosts events alongside the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger.[5]

Clients Who Volunteer - Many of Philabundance's 15,000 volunteers are also clients, especially at its Fresh for All program. These volunteers spend 2–3 hours a week distributing food to others, while they themselves need help, and are allowed to take the same amount of food as those attending the program.

Hungry Students – Due to rising tuition, and the rules around qualifications for SNAP benefits, many college campuses are seeing a rise in the number of hungry students enrolled. As a result, many schools are opening pantries on campus to serve those in need. Philabundance's partner, the Chester County Food Bank, and other Feeding America food banks have partner with colleges to ensure this population has enough food to survive and thrive in school. Philabundance will soon follow suit.

Programs
  • Fresh For All Program - To help families and individuals in need gain access to fresh vegetables and fruits, Philabundance operates Fresh For All Program at 9 locations in PA and NJ.
  • Senior Boxes Program - Gives USDA-sponsored food boxes to approximately 5,000 low-income senior citizens.[6]
  • Philabundance Community Kitchen - A culinary, vocational job training program that teaches low-income and unemployed individuals life and job-readiness skills.[7]
  • Grocers Against Hunger- a food rescue program that allows participating grocers to donate surplus inventory to Philabundance. The food is later distributed to clients through direct service programs. In 2015, the program saved 10 million pounds of produce that would have otherwise gone to waste.[8]
  • KidsBites - The KidsBites initiative provides access to nutritious food in low-income areas for children and their families to help ensure that kids in our service area have the food they need to thrive and grow. Since its inception, KidsBites has provided almost 250,000 pounds of food to children and their families. To meet the needs and size of different communities, Philabundance offers several program models: Mobile pantry; BackPacks; and LunchBoxes.

Contributions Received

A multitude of generous individuals, foundations and corporations support Philabundance. Following are some of the largest annual contributions:

  • Phans Feeding Families: The Philadelphia Phillies and the Citizens Bank, sponsor the annual Phans Feeding Families program, which consists of a night at the ballpark at which there are raffles and fundraisers to benefit Philabundance, as well as food collections at AT&T station and Citizens Bank Park. As part of its support of Phans, Citizen Bank makes an annual donation of $40,000 to support Philabundance' KidsBites initiative.
  • SEPTA Stop Hunger at Your Station - The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) supports Philabundance annually, by collecting food at more than 40 SEPTA stations. Stations also collected money, leading to tens of thousands of meals for our neighbors in need.
  • 93.3 WMMR's Preston & Steve Camp Out for Hunger – Every year since 1998, Preston & Steve hold a five-day "Camp Out for Hunger" event – most recently, at Xfinity Live! This is the largest single-location food drive in the county, raising more than 2.6 million pounds of food and $200,000 in 2019's drive and over 14 million pounds in since its inception. The event was aimed at increasing hunger awareness, as well as collecting food for Philabundance. The event featured popular bands and distinguished guests showing their support for Philabundance. Keeping with tradition, Preston and Steve camp at the spot in a trailer all through the week.
  • 6abc's Holiday Food Drive: Each year, 6abc and partners Dunkin Donuts and ACME raise food, funds and awareness of Philabundance from Thanksgiving through the New Year. Elements of the campaign include donations at ACME stores, a 6abc telethon and Dunkin Donuts in-store promotions.
  • Toyota Hauls Away Hunger: The Toyota Dealership Association of the Delaware Valley holds a literal food drive each December in which more than 50 Tundras caravan from Philabundance's warehouse in North Philly to Citizen Bank Park parking lot, hauling food to help feed those in need.
  • Fraud Street Run: Two Philadelphia runners, Chip and Jeff of the Junk Miles Podcast, organised a charity run inspired by the Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference. The event had proven more popular than they anticipated,[9] eventually raising nearly US$63,000.[10]

See also

References
  1. "2015 Form 990 (FY16)" (PDF). Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  2. Citizens Bank, Citizens Bank Foundation announces $25,000 donation Dated July 28, 2010. Retrieved on December 7, 2010
  3. AllBusiness, Philadelphia's Two Largest Hunger Relief Organizations Merge, January 28, 2005. Retrieved Jan 3, 2010.
  4. Snapshot Philabundance, Retrieved January 3, 2010.
  5. https://www.philabundance.org/learn/about-us/programs/grocers-against-hunger/
  6. "Philabundance offers food boxes to local seniors - Ridley Town Talk". Delco News Network. April 13, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  7. "Philabundance Community Kitchen : MediaRights Organizations Database". Mediarights.org. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  8. "Teaming Up Against Hunger : The Daily Local News". dailylocal.com. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  9. Farr, Stephanie (November 12, 2020). "Too popular, the Fraud Street Run inspired by the Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference goes entirely virtual and raises more than $19k". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  10. Chantry, Chip; Lyons, Jeff (December 7, 2020). "Lowest-Rated Hallmark Movies and Non-Denominational Holiday Songs". Junk Miles with Chip & Jeff. Episode 36. Event occurs at 15:18. Retrieved December 17, 2020. Final tally, the incredibly generous people who donated directly to Philabundance have raised $54,471 ... and t-shirt sales proceeds, we are going to chip in another $8,200. So the final campaign total donation by the amazing people supporting the Fraud Street Run; $62,671
    "Junk Miles Podcast and Friends Raising Funds for Philabundance". Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020. $54,631 Raised
  11. Stop Hunger At Your Station With Philabundance. SEPTA (2010-07-02). Retrieved on December 7, 2010.
  12. Month Long Food Drive for Philabundance - Philadelphia Flyers - News. Flyers.nhl.com. Retrieved on December 7, 2010.
  13. Preston and Steve's Camp Out For Hunger 2010. Philly2Philly.com (2010-12-01). Retrieved on December 7, 2010.
  14. Fresh for All brings produce to Souderton church for those in need - Souderton Independent. Montgomery News (2010-11-06). Retrieved on December 7, 2010.
  15. Philadelphia's food banks are a reason to give thanks all year 'round | Philadelphia Daily News | 11/23/2010. Philly.com. Retrieved on December 7, 2010.
  16. Murphy, David. (2010-11-16) A growing need for food relief | Philadelphia Daily News | 11/16/2010. Philly.com. Retrieved on December 7, 2010.
  17. Relief agencies feel hunger pangs | Philadelphia Daily News | 11/16/2010. Philly.com. Retrieved on December 7, 2010.
  18. Savana, Freda R.. (2010-11-11) Bare cupboards a sign of the season. PhillyBurbs.com. Retrieved on December 7, 2010.
  19. Nonprofit hosts ‘LIFTgiving’. The Temple News (2010-11-17). Retrieved on December 7, 2010.
  20. Charity Navigator Rating - Philabundance. Charitynavigator.org. Retrieved on December 7, 2010.
  21. Philabundance sees drop in donations. dailylocal.com (2010-05-19). Retrieved on December 7, 2010.
  22. Philabundance Seeks Help From Suburbanites For Suburbanites « CBS Philly – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of Philadelphia. Philadelphia.cbslocal.com (2010-10-18). Retrieved on December 7, 2010.
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