Thanks to a partnership among Stroehmann Bakeries, ACME Markets and Giant Food Stores, the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger has received more than $100,000 to provide more funding, food and resources to food pantries and
soup kitchens throughout the Philadelphia region.

The total donation of over $100,000 marks the culmination of Stroehmann Nourishing Neighbors, a monthlong campaign to raise money for food pantries as well as public awareness about hunger in Southeastern Pennsylvania. During four weeks in October and November, Stroehmann Nourishing Neighbors designated 10 cents of every purchase of King and Dutch Country bread at ACME and Giant to the Coalition Against Hunger.

“In these tough economic times, it’s rare for a corporation to step up and say that community is more important than profit, that helping neighbors trumps the bottom line—Stroehmann, Acme and Giant have done just that,” said Carey Morgan, Executive Director of the Coalition. “It’s the perfect example of putting your money where your mouth is. And this year it’s needed more than ever."

Earlier this month, the USDA reported that a record number of Americans lack steady access to adequate food, with nearly 17 million children living in households where food has run short over the past year.

Here in Southeastern Pennsylvania, there are more than 700 food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the region. Although these programs form vital safety nets in their communities, they struggle to feed the rising number of people who come to them for help.

Preliminary findings from the Coalition’s 2009 survey of food pantries found that:

• 65% of food pantries did not have enough food to meet demand
• 47% turned people away because they ran out of food

Stroehmann, ACME and Giant’s $100,000 donation will support the Coalition's new Victory in Partnership (VIP) Project, a groundbreaking initiative to provide food pantries and soup kitchens with more funding, food, volunteers, technology and training. The VIP Project also aims to build five networks of food pantries, enabling programs to work together in their respective regions. Through this coordination, food pantries and soup kitchens can feed more people in need—building a stronger safety net for all, one neighborhood at a time, Morgan said.

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