We are heartbroken to let you know that on Saturday, our dear friend and Coalition team member, Derek Felton passed away. Derek's work was fueled by his personal experience with poverty and food insecurity. Derek volunteered with the Coalition Against Hunger initially and began as our Community Organizer in 2004. He was integral to our SNAP work early on, especially his work establishing partnerships with the Philadelphia County Assistance Offices and training volunteers to assist pantry guests with SNAP applications. In his most recent role, as the Community Food Resource Coordinator, he was the central point of contact for pantries and soup kitchens through our Victory in Partnership (VIP) program, facilitating meetings and workshops, conducting site visits, offering consulting, and connecting VIP members with additional food resources, through the Food Rescue Program. Derek spoke up for food pantry and soup kitchen leaders and reminded us all of their need for support, as their needs could often be overlooked, making it difficult for them to continue their important work. He received numerous awards including the USDA Achievement Award for Connecting Low-Income Families to Food Stamps and the Campbell Soup Foundation Community Hero Award, but those recognitions closest to his heart came from his peers and clients, including the Unsung Hero award he received recently from Masjidullah - The Center for Excellence’s Food Pantry. Derek was a respected leader in the community due to his passion for anti-hunger work, dedication to cultivating relationships, and determination to help others. We are grateful for all that he brought to our work, our lives, and the movement to end hunger. Derek will forever be an inspiration to us all. |
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