Dear Friends,

With only 7 DAYS AWAY, we are gearing up for the 25th Annual Race Against Hunger 5K Run/Walk. This year’s 10-day virtual event will take place from Friday, April 16, 2021 - Monday, April 26, 2021. If you haven’t registered yet, TIME IS RUNNING OUT. Buy Your Race Ticket Today! You have the option to run or walk a certified 5K run/walk along Kelly Drive beginning at Boathouse Row or safely in your own community—all while raising awareness and supporting the movement to end hunger. If you aren’t able to join the Race this year, please consider Making a Donation. 

Proceeds of the Race Against Hunger support the work of the Coalition as well as food pantries, soup kitchens and hunger-fighting organizations in the region. To register or make a donation, please visit www.phillyhungerrace.com.

 

Policy and Advocacy

On the SNAP front, at the end of last week (just after we finalized our weekly email!), USDA announced its approval of $1 billion per month in additional food assistance to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants nationwide. This good news came on the heels of the additional benefits coming soon to Pennsylvania SNAP households as a result of the settlement of CLS’s lawsuit against USDA. We are thrilled that USDA has acted to rectify the prior administration’s interpretation of the Families First Act, which had denied SNAP Emergency Allotments to the lowest-income households already at the maximum benefit levels.

Would you like to learn more about public benefits? Some of you may be familiar with the Benefits Access Coalition training sessions that pre-pandemic were hosted by Philadelphia’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO). We are happy to share that we are partnering with Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) and Community Legal Services (CLS) to transition these to a virtual platform -AND- open them to participants statewide. This will allow more people to learn the basics on public benefits programs, as well as access shared information and resources.

The first webinar, which will focus on SNAP, will be held on Wednesday, April 21st at 11am. You can register for this session and learn more about the topics and dates for future monthly trainings on topics such as health coverage and cash assistance here. We thank Philadelphia CEO for getting these training sessions off the ground a few years ago and are excited about this new transition and the opportunities it brings to broaden joint advocacy efforts!

 

Once again, Nutritional Development Services (NDS) will be hosting a FREE Farmers to Family Food Distribution Day THIS weekend, on Saturday, April 10 from 10 am - noon, at Fatima Catholic Outreach Center, 2913 State Road, Bensalem, PA 19020 (please enter through Mechanicsville Road and exit onto Street Road).

They will have food boxes including a variety of meats, dairy, and produce, as well as student meal kits including 7 breakfasts & 7 lunches for virtual students who are not receiving school meals. All families are welcome, no ID required.

 

Food Pantry and Soup Kitchens

A big thank you to our VIP Food Rescue partners who distributed 17,105 pounds of food and water to 2000 people in 710 area households this past March through the Coalition’s Food Rescue Program! If you are interested in learning more about this program, please contact the Coalition’s Community Organizer, Derek Felton at [email protected].

 

SNAP Hotline

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).

 

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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