New and Noteworthy

We’re Official

For over twelve years the Coalition has been serving the Philadelphia community through anti-hunger education, outreach, and advocacy. During those years we have relied upon the generosity of other agencies for fiscal sponsorship. Recently, the Coalition applied for and received its own 501(c)(3) status and is now an independent non-profit.

As of December 1, 2008, the Coalition's new address will be:

Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger
1725 Fairmount Ave. #102
Philadelphia, PA 19130

Our phone numbers will remain the same:
Coalition main number: 215-430-0555
Food Stamp Hotline number: 215-430-0556

We’d like to thank Ms. Steveanna Wynn and the SHARE Food Program for the tremendous amount of support they have shown us over the past eight years. Without SHARE, we would not be where we are today. We look forward to a future of shared successes with SHARE as we continue to partner to fight hunger in our community.

A Fantastic Event: 2008 World Food Day Food Stamp Forum

Mayor Nutter kicked off the Coalition’s fantastic 2008 World Food Day Food Stamp Forum Press Conference. "All Philadelphians deserve access to affordable healthy food,” he said, “The thought that some people don't have [such] access may strike some people in the city as unusual. Unfortunately, it's a reality," he said.

These sentiments were no surprise to the 130 social service agency representatives in attendance.

Other speakers at the press conference included:

• Secretary Estelle B. Richman, Dept. of Public Welfare
• Deputy Secretary of Marketing & Economic Development Cheryl L. Cook, Dept. of Agriculture
• Mr. Bill Kluxen, Director SNAP/Food Stamp Program Food & Nutrition Service, USDA
• Mr. Wayne Grasela, Sr. Vice President, Food Services, School District of Philadelphia
• Mr. Paul Brauer, Vice President of Operations, Brown's/ShopRite Supermarkets

In addition to the press conference, the Forum included three panels that reached out to specific target groups: seniors, immigrants, and working families with children. Experts from agencies serving these constituencies described both how the recent food stamp changes will impact the communities they serve, as well as current innovative efforts around food stamp outreach.

Read more about the World Food Day Food Stamp event here:
Forum hears rare good news on food stamps  10/17/08

If you would like information provided at the Food Stamp Forum, please send a request to Katie at ckerr@hungercoalition.org and we’d be happy to send it to you via email.

Special thanks to Camara Jordan and the United Way for hosting the event.

Coalition in the News:

Times are hard, as Philadelphians try to make ends meet. Learn more about the issues by reading the articles below:

A Boneheaded Decision of Free School Meals   10/30/08

Soaring use of food stamps another sign of lean times   5/9/08

When Ends Don’t Meet   5/7/08