MEDIA ALERT
Philabundance Launches Drive-Thru Style Emergency Food Distribution
WHAT:
In response to increasing food insecurity across the region and the new normal of social distancing, Philabundance is opening a free drive-thru style emergency food distribution site in parking lot N at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies – a long-time supporter of the organization’s hunger relief efforts. This additional resource aims to provide food provisions to those in need by supplementing what clients have at home and purchase in store. This will be the first time Philabundance is hosting a drive-thru style emergency food distribution.
The distribution will be held on Fridays between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., from May 29 to June 26. Philabundance will be able to serve up to 1,300 vehicles each Friday at this site, with clients receiving a combination of shelf stable and perishable products varying weekly. Attendees are not required to show identification or documentation to receive emergency food from this site.
As this distribution is drive-thru style, Philabundance is only allowing those in cars to receive food to ensure the safety of clients, staff and volunteers. Those who walk up or take public transportation to the site will be directed to food pantries open on Fridays. For a comprehensive list of food resources near you, please visit whyhunger.org or auntbertha.com. Philadelphia County residents can call 311 or visit phila.gov/food/ to be connected with local resources.
Due to the volume of this distribution, attendees will only be allotted one share of food provisions (approximately 35 pounds of food) per vehicle. Attendees with more than one household in a car will receive the allotted provisions per vehicle and be directed to other food resources for additional support. Because of the high demand for assistance, we must adhere to this policy.
WHY:
With Philabundance partner agencies reporting up to a 60% increase in clients due to the pandemic, the primary goal of this new site is to safely distribute food to clients on a mass scale. Philabundance has adopted a ‘truck to trunk’ model, allowing for a minimal contact exchange and more clients obtaining provisions. This new site is in addition to Philabundance’s network of 350 agencies and its partnership with the City’s 40 free food distribution sites.
For more information on this emergency food distribution, visit philabundance.org/covid19/
WHEN:
Friday, June 26, 2020
WHERE:
Citizens Bank Park Parking Lot N – located off Pattison Avenue & 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148
For more information on this emergency food distribution, please see our FAQ page linked here.
*Please follow us on social media for information regarding closures. Distributions may be subjected to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.