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We all remember the good times of our high school years - algebra class, taking your driver's license exam, being left by your date on prom night, acne.  For two weeks this winter, thousands of Southeastern Pennsylvania's high school students are taking a break from all of that fun and helping Philabundance fight hunger here in the Delaware Valley. 21 schools are taking part in Shire's The Great Food Fight, a spirited competition that will result in one of this organization's largest food drives. During the inaugural Great Food Fight in the fall of 2010, area high schools put forth an incredible ...

When I was a kid, there was very little a PB&J sandwich couldn't fix. Bad day at school, kids teasing, a low grade on my spelling test - some creamy PB and strawberry J (never grape!) on untoasted white bread was my emotional cure-all, and my mom used it wisely. Here at Philabundance, we really love PB&J, too, but for different reasons.  So many children in the Delaware Valley are struggling with hunger and malnutrition, so being able to provide them with a simple, healthy snack like protein-rich peanut butter and sweet jelly is extremely important. However, it's not as easy ...

Recently, we received a letter from a man that was disappointed that we were operating like "a business" instead of a charity.  He stated that he would be pulling his support from Philabundance and "giving it to a real charity instead."  I was disturbed by his letter and felt frustrated that he could not see the work we are trying to do in the community, feeding 65,000 people per week, but as I thought about it further, my frustration turned to confusion. I began to wonder about his perception.  Why, as a non-profit, are we not permitted to run like ...

Philabundance's Executive Director, Bill Clark, submitted a letter to the editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer, discussing the best way to fight hunger and how every type of donation we receive helps. It was recently picked up and published on January 3, 2012 which explains why the length of this post is longer than usual. As the executive director of the Delaware Valley's largest hunger relief organization, I often get asked the question; will it help more to give money or food? The simple answer is that both are vital to what we're doing each day. Financial donations are critical. Without funding, ...

I've been fortunate enough to step from behind my desk to meet AND hear firsthand the incredible stories of the individuals we serve. It's difficult to hear how much people are struggling- after all, at one point, many of them were once well off but due to the recession, ran into tough times. But every now and then, someone's story of struggle transforms into a story of triumph and that's the most fulfilling part of it all. After Scott lost his job as a music teacher, he and his wife, Carlea didn't know how they'd make ends meet. Philabundance's Fresh for ...

Last year, more than 16,000 volunteers worked with Philabundance to fight hunger.  16,000 is as huge number, but what does it mean to us? 16,000 volunteers means we can feed more people.  The more hands we have helping out at our Hunger Relief Center, the more food we can sort and pack for our programs and our network of almost 500 feeding agencies.  And if you've ever been to the Community Food Center or one of the twelve Fresh For All sites, you know how critical volunteers are to getting food directly into the hands of people in need. 16,000 volunteers means ...

This time of year is my favorite here at Philabundance.  I feel like Santa's Helper when I see the tangible generosity of so many people in the form of donations and food drives.  Today though, I got a letter from someone who had received our mailing that went beyond anything I could have possibly imagined in its generosity and compassion for others. It was from a family in New Jersey that have a son, "Mark," that was a quadriplegic from the result of a tragic car accident in Philadelphia in the 1990's.  From the letter, I learned that before the accident, ...

You may call it "Thanksgiving Season", but at food banks across the country, we call it "Busy Season". That's because when people start thinking about a lovely meal with family and friends, they inevitably start thinking about all of those in need and are looking for a way to give back to the community. Well, with the help of some amazing corporate partners and Feeding America, there are some free (or really inexpensive) ways to give a meal. So over the next week, if you have a few extra minutes in between doing work, stalking your ex on facebook and catching up ...

Hunger Action Month may be officially over, but here at Philabundance, we are fighting hunger all day, every day. That's why every year, we recognize an organization and an individual with the Harvester of Hope award. The Harvester of Hope Award is given by Philabundance in recognition of those individuals or organizations who are leading the way in the spirit of fighting hunger and helping our neighbors throughout the Delaware Valley. During an intimate reception, Philabundance, with the help of the honorable Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia, honored Shire Pharmaceuticals and Sharon Stone, volunteer, for their dedication to the fight against ...

We're taking a break from our usual blog contributors to present a blog post from Mari Gallagher, Keynote Speaker for our first Hunger Symposium and expert on food deserts. It's a little longer than our usual blogs but well worth the read. In 1923, long before the rise of McDonald's golden arches, an advertisement for beef made this proclamation in the Bridgeport Telegraph: "Ninety percent of the diseases known to man are caused by cheap foodstuffs. You are what you eat." The phrase "you are what you eat" actually dates back to the 17th century. Over time, science has repeatedly demonstrated that ...