Food poverty—the lack of access to nutritious, affordable food—is present in every community. From children and seniors to the increasing number of working poor, hunger affects close to a million individuals throughout the Delaware Valley. Philabundance provides food to approximately 65,000 people per week through our direct services and network of 500 member agencies including emergency food kitchens, food cupboards, senior centers, and more. We serve low income residents at risk of hunger and malnutrition, of which 23% are children and 16% are senior citizens. These services are accessed by vulnerable populations such as those with disabilities or suffering from mental illness, as well as families slipping through the hunger safety net.

The Federal Poverty Line formula disregards the qualifying poor who receive food stamps but live above the poverty line. It also doesn’t acknowledge the working poor who make too much to collect welfare, but are unable to make ends meet, in spite of being part of the workforce.

In response to these challenges, Philabundance has taken a strong hold of the hunger issue in the Delaware Valley. By collaborating with the food industry and others committed to ending hunger, we are able to reach more people than ever before, with the goal to make nutritious food accessible to all.