By Tom Mahon | Project Leader
Just about one year ago, The Coalition Against Hunger partnered with The Food Trust to hold an Eat Healthy, Give Healthy food drive at local farmers’ market’s to increase accessibility to fresh produce at local food pantries.
It began as an idea by two AmeriCorps VISTA's, Jessica Humphries and Kalie Wertz, and the immediate success let us know that people in Philadelphia care about fresh food access for all!
The goal of the initial drives, held at Headhouse Square and Fitler Square Farmers' Markets in November 2014, was to give shoppers at the market an opportunity to donate fresh produce that would benefit the Coalition's Green Light Pantries.
The drives, held the Saturday and Sunday before Thanksgiving, collected 455 pounds of produce. Thrilled with the success, Jess and Kalie planned a second drive ahead of the Christmas holiday and collected an additional 270 pounds of produce to benefit food pantries in West Philadelphia.
It was clear that Eat Healthy, Give Healthy could serve as a way to get significant amounts of fresh produce into the hands of people at food pantries. Committed to connecting food pantries to fresh produce, The Coalition Against Hunger and The Food Trust now hold Eat Healthy, Give Healthy drives throughout the year.
The idea has caught the attention of others as well, and now Jefferson Hospital’s Farmers’ Market holds its own each month. All told, the drives have brought in nearly 2,000 pounds of fresh produce to food pantries across the city.
Please support our mission to increase healthy food access to all!
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