Dear Friends,

For 25 years our food pantry/soup kitchen partners have come together to bring awareness to an issue that has always heavily affected our community. Now more than ever due to the increased weight from the COVID-19 pandemic the 25th Race Against Hunger is essential to helping our #HungerFIghter partners continue the work of helping our neighbors feed their families. It’s because of their tireless work and commitment to community that we’ve launched the Building a Movement to End campaign to highlight their work! Watch the videos featuring our pantry partners then follow the links below to register for the Race and support the fundraising teams for the 25th Annual Race Against Hunger 5K Run/Walk! 

Join us from April 16th through April 26th to enjoy the warmer weather and run to end hunger in your neighborhood, safely with your friends or along a certified 5K route on Kelly Drive by Boathouse Row! Be sure to Sign Up HERE to race. 

Proceeds support the work of the Coalition as well as food pantries, soup kitchens and hunger-fighting organizations in the region. Please visit www.phillyhungerrace.com, for details on ways that you can support this year’s Race Against Hunger.

SNAP Hotline Story

A SNAP Hotline caller reached out to the Coalition after being told that they were being laid-off from their job. We worked with them to submit their SNAP application. Unfortunately their application letter was rejected. Our SNAP Case Manager connected with the County Assistance Office(CAO) Administrator to submit the clients termination letter and inform her that our Hotline caller was no longer working. The CAO reconsidered the application and our client was able to receive the full amount of their benefits! 

Our SNAP Hotline continues to operate Monday – Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Friday from 9:00 am to 4 pm at 215-430-0556.  

Here is the City of Philadelphia list of COVID-19 food distribution sites locations across Philadelphia for student, senior and outdoor food pick up sites.  

Here is a listing (phone numbers and addresses) of all Philadelphia County Assistance offices. Note, however, when calling it is often quicker to contact the Customer Service Center at 215-560-7226 (Philadelphia) or 877-395-8930 (statewide).

 

Policy and Advocacy

As we shared last week, Pennsylvania’s Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) plan has been approved, which means the coming weeks are a critical time for schools and parents to update the information needs so that benefits can go out smoothly to eligible students. As of now, there are just two key things parents/guardians need to know:

  1. No P-EBT benefits have gone out yet and will be issued until May.
  2. The most important thing to do now is to make sure your school has your updated mailing address and correct date of birth for your child.
 

Also, some important news from Harrisburg: As some of you have no doubt heard, earlier this week Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller announced that she will resign her position effective April 30, 2021. We join with many other organizations throughout the Commonwealth in thanking the Secretary for over six years of service, first as Pennsylvania’s Insurance Commissioner, and since August 2017 as Secretary of DHS. We are grateful for her commitment to serving those in need and wish her all the best as she moves on to run the Kansas Health Foundation. On the heels of this news, Governor Tom Wolf announced his intention to nominate Meg Snead to serve as the next Secretary of DHS. Most recently, Snead served as Gov. Wolf’s Secretary of Policy and Planning overseeing the administration’s development and implementation of policy priorities, including the COVID-19 pandemic response, ensuring access to health care, and breaking barriers to critical human services. We look forward to a smooth transition at DHS.

Food Pantry and Soup Kitchens

Nutritional Development Services (NDS) will be hosting a FREE Farmers to Family Food Distribution Day this weekend, this time in Philadelphia. Details: Saturday, March 27th, 2021, 10 AM – Noon, Holy Innocents Church 1337 E. Hunting Park Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19124 (please enter through the parking lot on North 17th Street).

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?  

We strive to build a community where all people have the food they need to lead healthy lives. Hunger is preventable. Thank you for your continued support of our work! 

The Coalition Against Hunger Team

Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger
123 Chestnut Street Suite 401 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
215-430-0555 | [email protected]

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