Philabundance is a non-profit food bank

Food bank

A food bank or foodbank is a non-profit, charitable organization that distributes mostly donated food to a wide variety of agencies that in turn feed the hungry. The largest sources of food are for-profit growers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers who in the normal course of business have...

 that serves the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley

Delaware Valley

The Delaware Valley is a term used to refer to the valley where the Delaware River flows, along with the surrounding communities. This includes the metropolitan area centered on the city of Philadelphia. Such educational institutions as Delaware Valley Regional High School in Alexandria Township...

 region of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

, United States. It is the largest such organization in the region.

History

The organization was founded in 1984. In the year 2005, it merged with The Greater Philadelphia Food Bank, and the new entity operates under the name Philabundance.

Goals

The organization aims to fight hunger by reducing food waste and giving food surpluses to local partners who serve such people.

Organization

Philabundance operates through direct service programs, contributing through food cupboards, emergency kitchens, shelters, daycare centers and senior centers. With a network of nearly 500 member agencies, Philabundance runs hunger prevention programs for providing emergency relief, as well as working on long term measures to address hunger in the Delaware valley.

Trends

Growing Demand- In the last 2 years (2009 and 2010) the demand for food, in the area served by Philabundance, has gone up by 60 percent. The last 12 months contributed to 25 to 40 percent of this increase resulting in longer lines outside food distribution centers in the Delaware valley. It even stopped a successful food program due to an overwhelming number of recipients who showed up.

Shrinking Donations - A high unemployment rate and reduced incomes have contributed to fewer donations. Many people who donated food to Philabundance last year are now dependent on Philabundance for daily meals.

Programs

• Fresh For All Program - To help families in need gain access to fresh vegetables and fruits, Philabundance started the Fresh For All Program at 12 locations across the Delaware Valley. Traditionally, food pantries served mostly non-perishable items. The program operates year round.

• Share the Harvest - helps farmers and gardeners in the Philadelphia area to donate fresh produce to those in need.

• Emergency Food Box - provides emergency assistance to needy families. A 30-pound box filled with basic food for three meals is distributed until the organization connects with the families.

• Senior Program - gives USDA-sponsored food boxes to low-income senior citizens.

• Community Kitchen - a job training program that teaches low-income and unemployed individuals life skills, job-readiness, and culinary arts skills.

• Grocers Against Hunger- a food rescue program that allows participating grocers to donate surplus inventory to Philabundance. The food is later distributed to clients through direct service programs and nearly 500 member agencies. The program saves grocers the cost of disposing inventory while preventing food waste.

• Community Food Center- a choice model food pantry that allows clients of Philabundance to choose from available items rather than receive a pre-packaged bag or box.

Contributions Received

• The Citizens Bank Foundation, the charitable arm of the Citizens Financial Group,Inc.
  Citizens Financial Group
  Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is an American bank headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, which operates in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. Citizens is a wholly owned...
  
  , donated $25000 in July 2010 to Philabundance for low-income families in the Delaware Valley. At an average of 30 cents per meal prepared by Philabundance, the donation amount catered to over 83000 meals. The contribution was made during the summer, a time of the year when donations are at their lowest.

• Help from SEPTA - The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) supported Philabundance in the summer of 2010, by collecting food at SEPTA stations. With collection barrels at over 45 locations, SEPTA collected mostly non-perishable items like canned or shelf stabilized tuna, pasta and beef ravioli, as well as peanut butter and jelly in plastic containers. To increase collections SEPTA placed collection barrels at Regional rail stations. Also, for customers with limited access to collection centers, SEPTA made provisions for them to give their donations directly to the driver.

• Comcast Spectacor, a Philadelphia based sports and entertainment firm, held a food drive from November 1 to November 22, 2010 to help Philabundance. It was assisted by the Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia), home to the Philadelphia Flyers NHL team
  Philadelphia Flyers
  The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
  
  . With 22 events during the food drive, they appealed to their fan base to donate non-perishable food items (canned tuna, canned vegetables, peanut butter,jelly in plastic containers) to address hunger in the Greater Philadelphia region.

• Camp Out for Hunger - In December 2010, the Preston and Steve show from Philadelphia's 93.3 WMMR radio channel, conducted a five-day “Camp Out for Hunger” event at the metroplex in Plymouth Meeting. Running in its twelfth consecutive year, the event was aimed at increasing hunger awareness, as well as collecting food for Philabundance. The event featured popular bands and distinguished guests showing their support for Philabundance. Keeping with tradition, Preston and Steve camp at the spot in a trailer all through the week.