You may not realize that each day, many Bucks County residents struggle to put food on the table. This struggle is often kept quiet because of the embarrassment felt by neighbors who don’t always have enough food to feed their family. But you can help your neighbors in need and help local teenagers make a difference by taking part in a unique, regional high school food drive called Shire’s Great Food Fight! benefiting Philabundance.

From Feb. 15 to March 2, students at Archbishop Wood High School and Holy Ghost Preparatory will join forces with their peers at 20 high schools across the region to combat hunger. Their goal is ambitious: together, collect 100 tons of food, which is equivalent to 200,000 meals, for Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization.

Philabundance says that in the past year, it has seen the need for food increase 26 percent, meaning there are more families requesting food assistance and the food collected from holiday drives isn’t lasting as long.

Our students are eager to show how they can fill the pantries of families in need, so that families don’t have to choose between paying utilities and buying food. They’re also eager to compete for prizes totaling $20,000 that will be split among seven schools with the most success.

With thousands of people struggling to find work, schools tightening their budgets and hunger on the rise, Shire’s Great Food Fight! couldn’t come at a better moment. We encourage everyone in Bucks County to help our students show their good character, support their schools and give back to others in need at this critical time.

TARIQ TROTTER, a/k/a Black Thought, of The Roots, hosts Let’s Move It Philly, a charity concert/party for his GrassROOTS Community Foundation Feb. 18 at Sigma Sound (212 N. 12th), a place near and dear to his heart, as it is where the Roots rehearsed and recorded their first few albums.

He’ll also perform at the event along with Roots drummer ?uestlove, who will DJ along with Rich Medina, Power 99′s Diamond Kuts.

Nikki Jean and the Money Making Jam Boys are also among entertainers that night.

Trotter founded the organization about a year ago with sociologist and John Jay College assistant professor Janice Johnson Dias. “We have daughters about the same age, around 6, and Janice’s work gave her a rude awakening as far as nutrition and obesity among young girls all over the country. She reached out to me about a year ago,” said Trotter, who has been funding the charity largely on his own since that time.

We caught up with Trotter yesterday morning by phone from Indianapolis, where the Roots have played a few concerts this week around the Super Bowl festivities and also broadcast “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” on which they’re the house band.

He’s an Eagles fan, but grudgingly rooted for the Giants.

The Let’s Move It campaign will have events in 13 cities to address childhood obesity in the African-American community.

Proceeds from the event will aid CHICKS (Creating Healthy Informed Confident Knowledgeable Selves) a GrassROOTS after-school program for girls at Harding Middle School in Frankford. Earlier Feb. 18, Trotter speaks at the Faith Assembly of God Church in a community-health forum in which Mayor Nutter is also expected.

For tickets to the Sigma event, visit grassrootscharityconcert.

eventbrite.com, or for info on GrassROOTS, visit grass-rootsfoundation.org.

Kobayashi gives back
Just hours after devouring a record-setting 337 wings at SportsRadio 94WIP’s Wing Bowl 20 on Friday morning at the Wells Fargo Center, Japanese eating machine Takeru Kobayashi was at Tony Luke’s (Front & Oregon) donating a $3,370 check to Philabundance from Cherry Hill Imports representing $10 for every wing he ate.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – While many were out for dinner on the night of Valentine’s Day, a group of singles got together, not just to make a love connection, but to do their part in feeding the hungry.

Philabundance wanted to “Spread the Love” at the organization’s Hunger Relief Center. Single volunteers were getting together to Meet Mr. or Ms. Right but more importantly to them; helping feed the less fortunate.

“It’s not just walking into a bar and meeting someone. I figured, if I met someone here, I would know they had a kind heart and (be) a charitable type person.”

That’s Judi, one of the 40 volunteers, filling 800 boxes with canned fruit, beans, rice, cereal and food for seniors in need.

Each got to get to know each other but were then put to work in the warehouse.

“I’m the official box opener.”

“I’m making sure that the tape is on the boxes.”

“I’m putting cereal in one of the boxes.”

“My role tonight is to break down cardboard to recycle.”

No love connections to report but a lot of smiles and full boxes of food for the seniors.

Simply RSVP by no later than Thursday, February 23rd by calling Annie Moretti at Reserve: 215-964-6262 or via email at  amoretti@reservephilly.com.

LOCATION
Reserve Restaurant Bar & Lounge
123 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA

www.reservephilly.com

40% of admission as well as 10% of merchandise will benefit Philabundance.

Join the event on Facebook!

TIME & LOCATION
Saturday March 3rd
9:30 P.M.  -  12:45 A.M.
Milkboy Philly
1100 Chestnut St.

COST
$8 in advance
$10 at the door
*Must be 21 and older to attend

Purchase your tickets in advance, here.
Preview music from Adam Web’s latest album, “Pendulum” here.

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 effort, donating 64 tons of food to Philabundance.  This winter, Shire Pharmaceuticals and Philabundance are raising the bar and challenging these students to collect 100 tons to help our neighbors in need.  Not only will the food from this competition be used to provide hundreds of thousands of meals, but our student participants will focus all of their positive energy to rally their classmates around this great cause.

Shire’s The Great Food Fight comes at a time of year when Philabundance sees a steep decline in food drive donations, despite a consistent demand for non-perishable goods.  As if all of this wasn’t enough reason to help out, Shire is providing $20,000 of cash prizes available to the best performing schools, including the $10,000 Golden Can Award for the top finisher.  We’re asking you to drum up some school spirit of your own and to consider donating canned goods or making a financial contribution as part of the Food Fight to your local participating school.

May the best school win!  Click here for a list of the 21 schools participating in the 2012 Great Food Fight.  To find out more about how to contribute, contact Noah Swistak, 215-339-0900 x1306.

At an assembly Tuesday morning, students from Archbishop Wood High School announced they are joining more than 20 other schools in the Philadelphia region to fight hunger by collecting non-perishable food items for Philabundance – a not-for-profit hunger relief organization that donated over 21 million pounds of food to the needy last year.

“We accept the challenge to help Philabundance,” Archbishop Wood High School Assistant Principal Mary McDonald told the student body. The school is trying to raise 25 tons, or 50,000 pounds, by March 2.

The call to action is part of Shire’s Second Grеаt Food Fight, which hopes to raise 100 tons of food between the schools for locals in need. The 100 tons of food could provide up to 200,000 meals, according a release. Last year, the program collected 64 tons of food from 18 high schools.

The program was brought to the attention of Wood administrators by senior Michele Healy, who wanted to help the community, McDonald said.

Students who donate large amounts of food will be eligible to win homework passes and even a free lunch, according to organizers at the school.

A prize of up to $10,000 will be awarded to the school that collects the most non-perishable food as measured in pounds. Smaller monetary prizes will be given to the school with the most pounds collected per student and the top school in each of the five participating counties, the Philabundance website states.

In recent months, Philabudance says, it has seen an increase in the number of people need their help.

“Wіth support frοm high school students асrοѕѕ thе region, thіѕ drive wіll hеlр υѕ provide much-needed food fοr pantries асrοѕѕ thе Delaware Valley tο hеlр thеm meet thе growing need,” Bill Clark, president аnd executive director οf Philabundance іn a press release.

“[The food drive] shows love for the community inside Wood and the community outside,” McDonald told the students.

A list of the schools participating:

Bucks County
Holy Ghost Preparatory School (Bensalem, PA)
Archbishop Wood Catholic High School (Warminster, PA)

Chester County
Conestoga High School (Berwin, PA)
Center for Arts and Technology – Pickering Campus (Phoenixville, PA)
Renaissance Academy (Phoenixville, PA)

Delaware County
Penncrest High School (Media, PA)
Marple Newtown High School (Newtown Square, PA)
Sun Valley High School (Aston, PA)

Montgomery County
Harriton High School (Rosemont, PA)
Upper Moreland High School (Willow Grove, PA)
Owen J. Roberts High School (Pottstown, PA)
Lower Merion High School (Ardmore, PA)
Spirit School (Wynnewood, PA)

Philadelphia County
Delaware Valley Charter High School (Philadelphia, PA)
Central High School (Philadelphia, PA)
Germantown High School (Philadelphia, PA)
Germantown Friends School (Philadelphia, PA)
Math and Science Technology Community Charter School (MAST) (Philadelphia, PA)
Charles Carroll School (Philadelphia, PA)
Abraham Lincoln High School (Philadelphia, PA)
Lankenau High School (Philadelphia, PA)

MEDIA, Pa. (CBS) – At Penncrest High School in Media, a pep rally to rival any football game is being held. The students are getting ready for The Great Food Fight, and there are 22 schools competing to collect food for Philabundance. The winning schools get prizes of up to $10,000 from Shire Pharmaceuticals.

“We also love the idea of having high school kids get engaged in such a meaningful way in their community as well,” said Matt Cabrey of Shire Pharmaceuticals.

The fight started early with a mascot dance-off. The prize was a head start of 100 pounds of food, and the Center for Arts and Technology’s Pickering Campus won.

“I commend the other mascots on trying to up my dance moves, but I pulled it off!” said Spoken Wright, who played the winning mascot.

But that’s just a start. The goal is 100 tons of food in two weeks, enough for 200,000 meals.

How do the students do it? Marianne Lynch, Philabundance’s Development Director, said Penncrest High “came up with the Can Man, and apparently he ran the halls and collected cans every day!”

Penncrest junior Zac Schauerman, 17, said, “Last year, we did this thing called ‘Stop the Bop,’ where we played Hanson’s ‘MMMBop’ in the hallways, and then we said, ‘We’re not going to stop until we get to a thousand dollars.’”

When it comes to feeding the hungry, everybody is a winner every time.

The Great Food Fight to benefit Philabundance officially kicks off on Wednesday, February 15 and goes until March 2.

Philadelphia, February 13, 2012 – Members of City Council and Philabundance announced a partnership to eliminate hunger throughout Philadelphia. In a visit to the Philabundance Hunger Relief Center on Monday, City Council members and staff presented an initial $2,000 donation that will provide meals for 4,000 families in need.

“There is no reason any family in the great City of Philadelphia should go hungry,” said Council President Darrell Clarke (5th District). “It doesn’t take much to help a neighbor out. We’re not getting the help we want from the folks in Harrisburg and Washington.
“But the citizens of Philadelphia have the power to pitch in. Those of us who have a few boxes of cereal or a few extra dollars to give – it is our duty to help.”

“We are delighted to have with us today Council President Clarke and the members of City Council as we come together to announce a new partnership and a new roadmap to ending hunger in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley,” said Bill Clark, president and executive director of Philabundance.

“Today marks a new chapter — a new opportunity. And while the generous donation City Council is contributing today will go a long way, what we at Philabundance are most optimistic about is the recognition that we cannot end hunger operating in separate spheres.  If we are going to do this, we must do it together.”

City Council members and staff helped pack and sort food at the Hunger Relief Center. Philabundance staff and volunteers distributed 18 million pounds of food in the Delaware Valley in 2010.

“I am pleased to be a part of City Council’s contribution to Philabundance.  This is a wonderful organization that takes care of our own – in the Philadelphia nine-county region – who are hungry and malnourished,” said Councilman Mark Squilla (1st District).
“As funding sources for charities continue to diminish and donations dry up, it is important that we support organizations such as Philabundance that directly impact our communities.”

Council members also praised Philabundance’s focus on distributing healthy food to families throughout the region. Of the food distributed annually, approximately 42 percent is produce.
“In order for non-profit organizations like Philabundance to continue their important work, we need both individual and corporate citizens to step up to the plate. Philadelphia City Council, led by President Darrell L. Clarke is here today to lead by example,” said Councilwoman-at-Large Blondell Reynolds Brown.

“We hope that others take note and we inspire a ripple effect of giving.”

Also present at the partnership announcement were Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District), Councilman Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District), Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th District), Councilman Bobby Henon (6th District),  Councilman-at-Large William Greenlee, Councilman-at-Large James Kenney, and Councilman-at-Large David Oh.

Montgomery County Family Service Center in East Norriton, which is supported by Catholic Social Services and receives funding from the Catholic Charities Appeal, works daily to assist individuals and families struggling financially.

Since the recession began in 2008, the Family Service Center has seen an increasing number of people who’ve hit hard times for the first time in their lives because of a job loss or a failed business.

“We’re seeing formerly self-sufficient people coming through our doors who don’t know where to begin,” said Kathy Emery, Catholic Social Services’ director of community-based and specialized services. “That first call is very difficult for people.”

The local services center, located at the corner of East Johnson Highway and New Hope Street, has a small staff and is grateful for essential help it receives from dozens of volunteers, she said.

On average, Catholic Social Services, which also serves Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties, receives 20,000 calls for assistance annually.

“In the Montgomery County office (Family Service Center), not including the food cupboard, there were nearly 3,400 calls for assistance,” Emery said.

Besides offering food, the center has free social worker assistance, parenting sessions, a social group for senior citizens and counseling services.

Emery said tightening government budgets means the nonprofit organization’s county agencies have less financial aid to subsidize rent and utility bills for clients.

“They’re all very strapped,” she said.

As it has done in the past, the social services agency looks to the annual Catholic Charities Appeal for crucial funding.

On Thursday, The Archdiocese of Philadelphia kicked off its 2012 CCA initiative with the goal of raising $10 million this year, according to a press release from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The major fundraising effort is the single largest in the archdiocese supporting Catholic Charities.

Emery said 92 cents of every dollar donated to the charities goes directly to those in need.
Twice a week, food is delivered to Catholic Social Services locations from Acme, B.J.’s Warehouse and Walmart through Philabundance. Weekly deliveries come from Wegmans and Bottom Dollar as well as Starbucks.

“We don’t want to see anyone leave our site hungry,” Emery said.

With operating costs of $116 million in 2011, Catholic Social Services provided youth services for nearly 2,000 children, supplied more than 1,000 beds every night for the homeless, and assisted hundreds of senior citizens, immigrants and families. About $20 million comes from donations, CCA and an archdiocesan subsidy, according to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

To contribute to the charities, visit their websites, www.catholicsocialservicesphilly.org and www.catholiccharitiesappeal.org. Or call the East Norriton center at 610-279-7372.