Loree Jones, Chief Executive Director of Philabundance discussed hunger in the Delaware Valley.  The area’s largest food pantry supplier, they are seeing hunger rising, today 17% of our children and one in ten people are food insecure.   Philabundance collects food, through donations, restaurants and groceries, produce suppliers and others to distribute to over 600 area pantries.  Their operating mission is to provide nutritious food to all, culturally responsive to the communities, equitably sourced from businesses that are diverse and that reflect their values, and accessible through local organizations within the community.  Loree points out that it’s all for nothing if its food that people don’t want or they can’t get to.   

She discussed the hunger calendar, lots of food comes in during the holidays, but hunger is year-round and many children are going without meals when school is not in session.  She talked about their latest initiative, ‘Let’s Eat’ that delivered meal boxes to their homes.    

Recognizing that hunger is a vicious circle, Philabundance not only works to alleviate hunger today, but also toward ‘Ending Hunger. For Good’ with partnerships that can offer services to help break the cycle of poverty and end hunger for good.  Financial literacy, health services, Housing and job training programming helps families become self-sufficient.  Philabundance itself has a kitchen program that teaches knife skills and job skills, its graduates leave with their Safe Serve certification and a 80+% job placement.  Students operate a Philabundance catering facility, it’s available for both hosting onsite and to cater outside events.  

While hiring catering is an easy way to get involved, she hopes we will also donate and volunteer.  Individuals and businesses can host food drives or raise cash through ‘virtual’ food drives.  She points out that with their buying power a cash donation goes much further.  Volunteers are also needed to sort, box food and transport collected food.  

We talked about the annual Camp Out for Hunger, the nation’s largest single location food drive, November 7th through the 11th at Xfinity Live at the Sports Complex.  Free parking and events every day are offered, including a carnival mid-way, live entertainment, a Wednesday night food truck and fireworks party, celebrity guests and stunts hosted by Beasley Media Group WMMR.   The event kicks off Sunday, November 6th with a ‘Fill a Trunk’ car show, local car clubs and collectors will bring donations to the site for a rally.  Businesses and individual are encouraged to donate through Camp Out, onsite or online.  For more information about Philabundance go to philabundance.org