6ABC Holiday Hunger Series

December 14, 2020
3:05 pm

Every November, Philabundance partners with 6ABC to raise awareness on the issue of food insecurity and highlight those working to fight hunger in our region through a series of news pieces. Although COVID forced a lot of holiday traditions to pivot, 6ABC was able to adapt its annual telethon, food drive and hunger series to ensure its audience remained informed about the increases in hunger and ways to help our neighbors in need.

In years past, 6ABC would air four stories about Philabundance’s hunger relief efforts. Because of the major impacts COVID has had on our operations, 6ABC increased that number to six, providing viewers with an even bigger glimpse into the 60 percent increase in need seen across Greater Philadelphia.

This year, 6ABC featured stories on new Philabundance CEO Loree Jones, our partnership with Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), the opening of our new job training facility, two dedicated volunteers and two additional stories on Philabundance partner agencies making a difference in their communities during the pandemic.

This series is part of the larger holiday food drive, supported by ACME and Dunkin. We truly appreciate 6ABC and its partners for supporting Philabundance during such trying times. These news stories show that we cannot drive hunger from our communities and end hunger for good without awareness, collaboration and support.

1. New Philabundance chief sees dramatic increase in need due to COVID-19

Philabundance CEO Loree Jones joined the Philabundance team in the midst of the pandemic and has hit the ground running to meet the increased need. From navigating safety and PPE equipment to accessing more food at increased prices, Loree has seen firsthand how big of an impact this pandemic has had on the charitable food network. To learn more about our new CEO, check out this blog!

2. 21st century victory gardens: Planting a seed for neighbors in need in Philadelphia

During the pandemic, Philabundance began partnering with PHS’s Harvest 2020 program. Aimed at connecting produce grown in local community gardens to nearby food pantries, the program has grown more than 32,000 pounds of food for our neighbors. Click here for more info on this powerful program!

3. Philabundance Community Kitchen teaches knife skills & life skills

The Philabundance Community Kitchen (PCK) is a free 16-week culinary arts and job training program for low-to-no-income adults looking for a path to self-sufficiency. The 20-year-old program opened the doors to its new state-of-the-art facility in North Philadelphia in September and will be graduating its inaugural class this December. If you are interested in joining or supporting the program, visit Philabundance.org/PCK/.

4. Meet 2 dedicated Philabundance volunteers making sure others don’t go hungry

Dana Cooper and Jack Bradley are two essential Philabundance volunteers who help run our twice weekly HUB, a food distribution for partner agencies to pick up extra food. According to Philabundance Warehouse Manager Donnamaria Valenza, we wouldn’t be able to run the HUB without Dana and Jack, especially during COVID. If these gentlemen inspired you to want to volunteer, click here to sign up for a shift today!

5. Retired Army veteran continuing to serve community through church food program

Since COVID hit our region, Michael Bennett and the Upper Room Baptist Church have hosted free food distributions every Monday-Friday to ensure everyone in the West Oak Lane area has access to food. This Philabundance partner agency is one of the City of Philadelphia’s free food distribution sites and even has its own pantry run by Mr. Bennett called 2 Fish 5 Loaves. To support Philabundance and agencies like the Upper Room, visit Philabundance.org and donate today.

6. Small Things nonprofit working to make larger community impact through food distribution

Seniors are one of the most vulnerable populations impacted by the pandemic. Small Things, formerly known as Easter Outreach, has worked throughout COVID to ensure seniors have access to home delivered food so they don’t have to put themselves at risk by going to the store. Pastor Vito Baldini of Liberti Church, a Philabundance partner agency, spearheaded Small Things and it is quickly turning into something big. To get involved with senior food deliveries with Small Things, visit smallthingsphilly.org/.

Philabundance Awards 49 Member Agencies with Capacity Grants

June 18, 2025

Philabundance has announced $250,000 in 2025–2027 Capacity Grants for 49 member agencies across Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. This funding will provide the operational capital needed to allow organizations to remain flexible and able to adapt to changing needs.

From faith-based institutions in Delaware County to social service agencies meeting the needs of diverse families across Philadelphia County, the 2025–2027 Philabundance Capacity grantees are among the hundreds of organizations that partner with Philabundance to support the more than 600,000 individuals in our region experiencing food insecurity.

The grantees include

Bucks County: Bucks County Opportunity Council; Faith Baptist Church
Delaware County: Blessed Virgin Mary; Loaves & Fishes; Prayer Chapel Church of God in Christ
Mercer County: Prince of Peace Center
Montgomery County: Bethel Community Church; ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth; Grace Lutheran Norristown; Love Works Resource Center; Mitzvah Circle; Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard; Patrician Society
Philadelphia County: African Family Health Organization; Alexander McClure Elementary School; Bebashi; Bethany Missionary Baptist Church; Breaking Bread on Broad; Bright Hope Baptist Church; Broad Street Love; Brothers of Strawberry Mansion; Calvary Agape Outreach Services; Casa Del Carmen; Cast Your Cares; Christ Apostolic WOSEM; Community Center at Visitation; Episcopal Community Services; The Family Practice & Counseling Network; First Church Worship Center; Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry; Grace Community Christian Center; Kensington Health Sciences Academy; Lutheran Settlement House; Mighty Writers; Mi Salud Wellness; Nationalities Services Center; North Light Community Center; Old Pine Community Center; Open Door Ministries; Our Brothers Place; Paul L Dunbar School; Project H.O.M.E.; Southwest Family Service Center; St. Paul Outreach; Word In Action International Ministries
York County: Bethlehem Baptist Church; Mattie Dixon Community Center
Southern New Jersey: Puerto Rican Unity for Progress; SisterHood Inc.

Philabundance Capacity Grants help improve each organization’s ability to operate more efficiently and deliver effective food distribution programs and services. To date, $4.4 million dollars in Philabundance Capacity Grants have been allocated for capacity-building infrastructure, such as refrigerators, freezers, refrigerated vans and technology to empower community partners and improve the food distribution network.

“As federal resources continue to shrink and hunger remains a distressing reality in the Greater Philadelphia region, community-based nonprofits are often a lifeline for families in need of healthy food,” said Loree D. Jones Brown, CEO of Philabundance. “Investing directly in our partners and their infrastructure allows us to swiftly and efficiently meet the needs of thousands of our friends and neighbors experiencing food insecurity.”

“Breaking Bread on Broad is [very] grateful for the new refrigerators we will be able to purchase with our Philabundance grant,” said Dan Seltzer, co-leader of Breaking Bread on Broad (BBoB). “Breaking Bread on Broad is the food pantry of Congregation Rodeph Shalom whose mission is to provide our neighbors in need with food, diapers and period supplies each week. With this grant, we will be able to provide our BBoB neighbors with more fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein to better feed their families.”

“With this funding, Casa Del Carmen will invest in critical hardware—such as commercial refrigeration, durable shelving, metal prep-table and mini hand pallet jack—that will enhance the efficiency and reliability of our food pantry operations,” said Janet DeJesus, office manager at Casa Del Carmen. “These improvements will allow us to store more fresh and nutritious food, reduce waste, and serve our neighbors more quickly and with greater dignity. By strengthening our infrastructure, we are not only improving daily logistics but also deepening our commitment to food security and community well-being.”