Advocacy Beet: Kathy Fisher, Director, Government Affairs

Philabundance Logo - Let's Eat Summer Program

As summer begins, we are entering a challenging new phase for school and summer meal providers – and for the children and families who rely on them. While Pennsylvania has provided some flexibility to nutrition programs to better function through several USDA waivers, two waivers will expire unless Congress acts. June 30th will mark the end of one waiver which increased access to summer meals and provided school meals at no cost to all students in 90% of school districts nationwide.

School and summer meal providers are being asked to return to “normal” when the circumstances they face are far from normal. Dramatic increases in food and transportation costs, supply chain disruptions, and staffing shortages present significant obstacles to daily operations. As a result, meeting children’s nutritional needs is about to get much more difficult—but it doesn’t have to.

Child Nutrition Reauthorization, Congress’ process of making changes to child nutrition programs, last occurred in 2010. Now is the time for Congress to update and improve school and summer meals, as well as the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). What we’ve learned from the past two years can make these programs function better.

The pandemic has exacerbated educational and economic inequities. But it also taught us many lessons on improving access to child nutrition programs. Congress must do more to provide schools, childcare providers, and community-based organizations the tools they need to ensure all children have year-round access to nutritious meals.

Visit www.philabundance.org/advocate to join us in building a movement to end food insecurity and learn how to use your voice to advocate for programs that relieve hunger today and end hunger for good. Legislators need to hear the message loud and clear: no one should go hungry.

Philabundance Awards 49 Member Agencies with Capacity Grants

Philabundance Awards 49 Member Agencies with Capacity Grants

Philabundance has announced $250,000 in 2025–2027 Capacity Grants for 49 member agencies across Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. This funding will provide the operational capital needed to allow organizations to remain flexible and able to adapt to changing needs.

From faith-based institutions in Delaware County to social service agencies meeting the needs of diverse families across Philadelphia County, the 2025–2027 Philabundance Capacity grantees are among the hundreds of organizations that partner with Philabundance to support the more than 600,000 individuals in our region experiencing food insecurity.

The grantees include

  • Bucks County: Bucks County Opportunity Council; Faith Baptist Church
  • Delaware County: Blessed Virgin Mary; Loaves & Fishes; Prayer Chapel Church of God in Christ
  • Mercer County: Prince of Peace Center
  • Montgomery County: Bethel Community Church; ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth; Grace Lutheran Norristown; Love Works Resource Center; Mitzvah Circle; Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard; Patrician Society
  • Philadelphia County: African Family Health Organization; Alexander McClure Elementary School; Bebashi; Bethany Missionary Baptist Church; Breaking Bread on Broad; Bright Hope Baptist Church; Broad Street Love; Brothers of Strawberry Mansion; Calvary Agape Outreach Services; Casa Del Carmen; Cast Your Cares; Christ Apostolic WOSEM; Community Center at Visitation; Episcopal Community Services; The Family Practice & Counseling Network; First Church Worship Center; Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry; Grace Community Christian Center; Kensington Health Sciences Academy; Lutheran Settlement House; Mighty Writers; Mi Salud Wellness; Nationalities Services Center; North Light Community Center; Old Pine Community Center; Open Door Ministries; Our Brothers Place; Paul L Dunbar School; Project H.O.M.E.; Southwest Family Service Center; St. Paul Outreach; Word In Action International Ministries
  • York County: Bethlehem Baptist Church; Mattie Dixon Community Center
  • Southern New Jersey: Puerto Rican Unity for Progress; SisterHood Inc.

Philabundance Capacity Grants help improve each organization’s ability to operate more efficiently and deliver effective food distribution programs and services. To date, $4.4 million dollars in Philabundance Capacity Grants have been allocated for capacity-building infrastructure, such as refrigerators, freezers, refrigerated vans and technology to empower community partners and improve the food distribution network.

“As federal resources continue to shrink and hunger remains a distressing reality in the Greater Philadelphia region, community-based nonprofits are often a lifeline for families in need of healthy food,” said Loree D. Jones Brown, CEO of Philabundance. “Investing directly in our partners and their infrastructure allows us to swiftly and efficiently meet the needs of thousands of our friends and neighbors experiencing food insecurity.”

“Breaking Bread on Broad is [very] grateful for the new refrigerators we will be able to purchase with our Philabundance grant,” said Dan Seltzer, co-leader of Breaking Bread on Broad (BBoB). “Breaking Bread on Broad is the food pantry of Congregation Rodeph Shalom whose mission is to provide our neighbors in need with food, diapers and period supplies each week. With this grant, we will be able to provide our BBoB neighbors with more fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein to better feed their families.”

With this funding, Casa Del Carmen will invest in critical hardware—such as commercial refrigeration, durable shelving, metal prep-table and mini hand pallet jack—that will enhance the efficiency and reliability of our food pantry operations,” said Janet DeJesus, office manager at Casa Del Carmen. “These improvements will allow us to store more fresh and nutritious food, reduce waste, and serve our neighbors more quickly and with greater dignity. By strengthening our infrastructure, we are not only improving daily logistics but also deepening our commitment to food security and community well-being.”

2025 Justice for the Hungry Campaign Results

2025 Justice for the Hungry Campaign Results

Philabundance recently celebrated the 18 law firms that participated in the 2025 Justice for the Hungry campaign, during which law…
PHILABUNDANCE, THE GIANT COMPANY KICK OFF 2025 SUMMER LUNCHBOX PROGRAM

PHILABUNDANCE, THE GIANT COMPANY KICK OFF 2025 SUMMER LUNCHBOX PROGRAM

When school pauses for the summer, school-provided lunches pause with it. Philabundance and The GIANT Company fill that gap for…