Help hungry families afford the food they need

Although the recession has ended, many families in Pennsylvania—and across the U.S.—are still reeling from its effects. Record numbers of Americans have sought food assistance over the past year, many for the first time in their lives.   

In the past three months alone, the Coalition Against Hunger has helped nearly 2,000 people in Philadelphia put food on their tables, by connecting them with SNAP (food stamp) benefits so they can buy groceries for their families as they get back on their feet.

We’ve helped people like Tammy F., who lost her job at a pharmaceutical company last year. The 34-year-old mother had no idea how she was going to feed her 8-year-old son and 70-year-old mother. Even when she was employed, Tammy struggled to pay for their medications, since both her son and mother had physical disabilities. “There were times when I was standing there, crying, thinking, Why is this happening?,” says Tammy.

Tammy learned about the Coalition’s SNAP (Food Stamp) Hotline from her state representative’s office, where she often volunteered. “He told me to call the number to get help—it was great advice,” she says. The Coalition helped Tammy obtain her benefits and referred her to community food pantries for extra support. “This was the first time in my life I had to go through something like this, and the Coalition was wonderful to work with,” Tammy says.

Every day, supporters like you allow us to help people like Tammy make ends meet as they rebuild their lives. Thank you for your continued support in our ongoing fight against hunger.

Links:

• Visit the Coalition's website
• PSA: SNAP (Food Stamp) Hotline

Dear GlobalGiving Friends:

Thanks to your support, the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger has made great strides in ensuring all children have the nutritious food they need to lead healthy lives. Last year, we:

• Helped nearly 5,000 people in Philadelphia apply for benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), so they could buy food for their families.
• Provided more than 100 local food pantries and soup kitchens with funding, kitchen equipment and trainings to help them better meet the growing need in their communities.
• Successfully advocated to protect Philadelphia’s Universal Feeding Program, which provides free school meals to more than 110,000 children in high-poverty schools.

And we're constantly looking for new, innovative ways to help families put food on their tables. Last summer, more than 25,000 low-income mothers and children were able to buy more fresh produce, under a joint public-private initiative coordinated by the Coalition Against Hunger.

The WIC Farmers' Market Project provided participants in the federal WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program with $80 in farmers’ market vouchers—quadruple the amount historically allotted. Families could redeem their vouchers for fruits and vegetables at more than 30 farmers’ markets in Philadelphia. Not only did the project help families buy healthier foods, it pumped nearly $1.3 million into local farms throughout the region.

We couldn’t have done any of this without supporters like you, who share our commitment and passion to ending hunger in our communities. We will continue to update you with our progress in the fight against hunger in the months ahead.

Links:

• Visit the Coalition's Website
• WIC Project