Mission:

The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger strives to build a community where all people have the food they need to lead healthy lives. The Coalition connects people with food assistance programs and nutrition education; provide resources to a network of food pantries; and educates the public and policymakers about responsible solutions that prevent people from going hungry.

How We Fight Hunger:

1 in 4 people in Philadelphia live on the brink of hunger. Because food is a basic need, hunger affects every aspect of a person's life, from health to academic performance to productivity at work.

Founded in 1996, the Coalition Against Hunger takes a comprehensive approach to fighting hunger, addressing a spectrum of needs through three main programs:

Hunger Fighters Network

The Coalition builds the capacity of many of Philadelphia’s estimated 700 food pantries and soup kitchens through:

• The Walk+Run Against Hunger, an annual event that raises over $250,000 for more than 100 food pantries, soup kitchens and hunger-relief agencies in Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey.
• The Victory in Partnership (VIP) Project, a groundbreaking initiative that networks food pantries and soup kitchens within five regions of Philadelphia so they can work together to fight hunger in their communities. Participating programs also receive funding, trainings and other tools to help them improve their programs.
• Adopt-A-Pantry, a website portal that allows visitors to learn more about food pantries and soup kitchens and donate online to support their work.

Food Stamp (SNAP) Campaign

The Coalition helps eligible Philadelphia residents obtain food stamps (SNAP). Since 2002, the Coalition has assisted more than 50,000 households and now screens nearly 7,000 individuals every year through the:

• Food Stamp (SNAP) Hotline (215-430-0556), which enables residents to apply for SNAP benefits by phone.
• In-person screening and application assistance at Philadelphia health centers, career centers and other community sites.
• Case management for SNAP applicants or participants wrongly denied benefits. The Coalition resolves most of the 100-plus cases it handles each month.

Policy Center

The Coalition advocates on the local, state and national levels for responsible policies to reduce and prevent hunger in the region. Over the past year, the Coalition has:

• Worked closely with Philadelphia’s Congressional Delegation and local child advocates on federal legislation to preserve Philadelphia School’s District’s universal feeding program, which provides free school meals to more than 110,000 low-income students.
• Led a coalition of nonprofit, foundation and government groups in a pilot project that provided Philadelphia WIC families an additional $60 each in farmers’ market vouchers. The project increased voucher redemption rates, bringing countless additional pounds of fresh produce to low-income families and an additional $1.3 million to Pennsylvania farmers.

Management

• Executive Director: Carey Morgan
• Community Nutrition Program Manager: Tanya Sen
• Community Organizing Coordinator: Derek Felton
• Policy Center Manager: Julie Zaebst
• Food Stamp Campaign Manager: Raquel McNeal

Board of Directors

• Anne Ayella, Nutritional Development Services, Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Chair)
• Mary Burns, GlaxoSmithKline (Treasurer)
• Vikki Lassiter, African American Collaborative Obesity Research Network
• Jeannine McCullough, People’s Emergency Center 
• Yvette Palmer, Helping Hands for the Hungry
• Robin Rifkin, Health Promotion Council
• Elizabeth M.P. Rubin, The Pincus Family Fund to End Hunger (Secretary)
• Michael Armento, Please Touch Museum
• John Marcoux, Bimbo Bakeries, Inc.
• Karen Wallace, ARAMARK Corporation

Media Contact
Ronna Bolante, Communications Manager
215-430-0555 ext. 110
rbolante@hungercoalition.org  

Location:
1725 Fairmount Avenue, Unit 102
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Main: 215-430-0555
Fax: 215-769-2765    
info@hungercoalition.org