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Joe D’Ginto, 75, is a retired senior who worked hard for most of his life. Joe’s mom passed away from a heart attack when he was just 11 years old and his dad struggled supporting him and his five siblings, ultimately leaving them to raise themselves. Dropping out of Radnor High School in 10th grade, Joe began working at an early age to earn enough money to survive. As he settled down and started a family, he continued to work different jobs – including cleaning at Radnor Middle School cleaning, maintaining utilities at Wayne Presbyterian Church, shining men’s shoes at Chester ...

Just a few weeks ago, we released this statement about President Trump’s extreme proposal to cut SNAP (food stamps) by over 25% and the harm that would cause. Now Congress is working on its version of the budget, and, unfortunately, we have reason to be concerned that SNAP is at risk. In the last few years, Congress has put forth budget proposals with cuts similar to those proposed by the President time and time again, so we are very concerned that SNAP is still on the chopping block, and will continue to be on the chopping block over and over. Making ...

by Sean Breslin, Manager of Community Food Programs Earlier this month we celebrated World Milk Day, a day established by the Food and Agriculture Organization to recognize the importance of milk as a global food. To celebrate, Philabundance staff Sean Breslin and Devin Hunter joined the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Feeding Pennsylvania and the American Dairy Association for a tour of Ar-Joy Farms in Chester County. Owned and operated by Duane and Marilyn Hershey, we saw first-hand Ar-Joy’s 600 head of cattle milked three times a day, around the clock. Part of this bounty goes to Fill A Glass With Hope, a Feeding ...

by Glenn Bergman, Executive Director of Philabundance I am always amazed at how much produce comes in to Philabundance from the Produce Center, the Port of Philadelphia, our grocery – retail store partners, and our farmers in the summer months. On Thursday, May 11th, we received a donation of 350 pounds of amazing farm product. This is perhaps one of the smallest donations of fresh vegetables we receive, but it is just as meaningful, especially when I tell you who gave it to us, where it came from, and the amazing people behind the food. The food came from a farm one block ...

For Philabundance volunteer and Elkins Park resident, Susannah Gale, volunteering at the Hunger Relief Center is a fun and impactful use of time during her gap year between high school and college. Recently, Susannah Gale spoke about her experience with the Philabundance team and why she keeps coming back. Question: How old are you? A: I’m nineteen currently. I turn twenty in the fall and am freaking out a little about the reality of being in my 20s so soon. Q: How did you start volunteering with Philabundance? I’m in the middle of taking a gap year between high school and college. I didn’t ...

For National Volunteer Appreciation Week, Kali Hamilton, Philabudance’s volunteer coordinator, shares some of her favorite memories and the perks of working so closely with our volunteers and hunger heroes. Question: Introduce yourself! Answer: I am Philabundance’s Volunteer Coordinator and have been for over two years! During National Volunteer Appreciation Week this year I wanted to personally thank the thousands of amazing volunteers we have the pleasure of working with.  Q: Can you explain a little more about your position? A: My main role as volunteer coordinator is to manage most of the day to day administration of shift scheduling and communication. If you’ve ...

The past few years have been a whirlwind for Theresa. After the heartbreak of separating from her husband of nearly 30 years, Theresa tragically lost her mother, as well. Through all of this, Theresa remains hopeful. But as a single mother to her three sons, she sometimes struggles to buy groceries due to her stressed financial situation. Although she works as an emergency medical technician, Theresa doesn’t always make enough money to cover her family’s basic expenses. And when her son Lucas, 10, is out of school for summer vacation, she’ll need to cover the expense of two more meals each ...

“When you’re on a fixed income, every dollar counts,” Leticia says. She knows from experience. Leticia has epilepsy, and though she’s a certified nurse’s assistant, she’s not able to work due to her disorder. That means her only income for the past few years has been small disability checks. Making her budget stretch to provide for her children, ages 3 to 14, is often a struggle. Leticia cuts expenses where she can, but ensuring the kids have access to good nutrition is important to her. Fresh foods like fruits and vegetables strengthen her own health, too, but are usually too expensive to ...

Dear Friend, As summer approaches, we begin to think about vacations we might take with our families, visiting friends, or perhaps going down the shore. I know it is a time for my wife and me to reconnect with my grown children who live in three different time zones across the United States. Our family looks forward to summer, as it is one of the only times we have the chance to spend a whole week together. As a member of the Philabundance team, I know that summer is a difficult time for many families that we serve. Countless numbers of working parents ...

Why play a board game or go to the movies when you can spend family night at Philabundance? That’s how Keri Fisher and her husband, Matt Murphy, feel about working in the Philabundance warehouse with their three children Declan, Ronan and Molly. Once a month, they head down to South Philly from their home in Bryn Mawr for a family volunteer shift at the Hunger Relief Center on South Galloway Street. Keri says the kids, ages 12, 10 and 8, love the work and have fun while doing something good for their neighbors. Keri and Matt, like so many thoughtful parents, want ...