Share Food Program
| Formation | 1985 |
|---|---|
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Location |
|
Region served | Philadelphia |
| Services | Food bank |
Executive Director | George Matysik |
Chief Program Officer | Steve Preston |
| Affiliations |
|
| Website | www.sharefoodprogram.org |
Share Food Program is a social services organization working for hunger relief in the Philadelphia region of Pennsylvania, United States.[1] It serves as a food bank to the communities in accordance with USDA civil rights regulations and feeds more than 1 million people each month in Philadelphia and the suburbs.[2] Share Food Program is the largest hunger-relief agency in the Greater Philadelphia area. [3]
History[edit]
Share Food Program was founded in 1985 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, focused on increasing access to low-cost food in Philadelphia, using a food co-operative model. Beginning in 1991, it expanded its operations to fight hunger, by getting food to people in need throughout the city.[4][5]
During the COVID-19 outbreak that began in March 2020, the organization partnered with SEAMAAC, a Philadelphia-based non-profit to distribute 1,000 meals and food boxes a day since mid-May 2020.[6] In October 2020, it received grant from William Penn Foundation[7] and, along with other donations, was able to give away 10 million pounds of food.[8]
In January 2021, State Senator Vincent Hughes presented state funding to the Share Food Program for warehouse maintenance.[9] On the National Day of Service, over 100 volunteers participated to distribute food to seniors’ programs and families in need.[10]
In February 2021, the organization received a grant from Dunkin Joy in Childhood Foundation.[11]
Overview[edit]
Share Food Program distributes food to 1 million needy people each month,[1] over 50% of whom are children, and 12% of whom are seniors or people with disabilities. It also serves 305,000 children through the national school lunch and breakfast program to 69 regional districts in Philadelphia.[12][4] The food comes from government partners, supermarkets, wholesalers, restaurants, farms and food drives.[5]
The organization also partners with 150 pantries around Philadelphia as part of its Partner Pantries program. Other programs include food relief, MontCo hunger solutions, nice roots farm and home deliveries.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Rovins, Donna. "Shoppers have two new grocery options in Montgomery and Chester counties". The Times Herald. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
- ^ "How to solve "the lost mile" for hungry Philadelphians". The Philadelphia Citizen. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ "Food insecurity rose 'significantly' in households with children and among people of color, report finds". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ a b Zlomek, Joe. "Share Food Program Joins Pottsgrove Meals Distribution Monday". The Post. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ a b "About Us". Share Food Program - Official website. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Blatt, Jessica. "SEAMAAC feeds thousands of Philadelphians—and gets out the vote—during Covid-19". The Philadelphia Citizen. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ Newsroom. "WPF Awards Racial Equity and COVID-19 Relief Grants". William Penn Foundation. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ Lubrano, Alfred. "At holiday time, donations to many food charities aren't keeping up with pandemic-fueled need". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ MacDonald, Tom. "Place for food insecure finds state funds to help power refrigeration with the sun". WHYY. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Stewart, Khiree. "Volunteers spend MLK Day helping out at Share Food Program". PHL17.com. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ News anchor. "Dunkin' Presents $25,000 Grant To Philadelphia's Share Food Program". CBS News. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Lubrano, Alfred. "Idle school bus drivers in Ridley dispatched to deliver food to student families". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 30, 2020.