Dear Friends, 2020 has been a year none of us could have predicted. Like many of our sister hunger relief agencies, we were faced with an enormous challenge. During this year of COVID-19, food insecurity grew in Philadelphia by 30% with even larger increases in surrounding counties. We responded to hundreds of calls from people seeking emergency food resources and SNAP benefits. Many of them were facing food insecurity for the first time in their lives due to massive layoffs and business closures brought on by COVID-19-related shutdowns. Our food pantry partners faced massive barriers in their efforts to deliver food safely due to site closures and with many pantry leaders in an age category that meant they are more vulnerable to COVID-19. We worked creatively and virtually to communicate the ever-shifting federal and state food nutrition policy changes to our clients and partners. All of this, while our team shifted to working remotely from our homes. | |
Thank you for being there with us! Our work at the Coalition has never been harder nor more important. With your support, our small but mighty Coalition team will continue to: - Connect food pantries and soup kitchens to additional food, funding, training, and host wellness calls to create peer-to-peer support.
- Connect individuals and families with food resources in their neighborhood and help them navigate the SNAP application process.
- Advocate for policies and processes that increase access to food, such as a 15% increase in SNAP benefits.
As we head into the darkest days of the year with a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and more lost jobs, your dollars ensure that we can continue our work to connect individuals and families to the emergency food resources they need. Thank you again for your support. Your dollars make a difference, now more than ever. Wishing you good health and a safe holiday season. Melody Keim Executive Director | |
