Advocate Your Voice

May 2, 2023
8:00 am

Effective advocacy is a time-tested method to empower nonprofits like Philabundance to help shape the public debate on significant social issues and ensure that our underserved communities have a voice in the policies that impact their lives. It is a powerful and vital tool in our effort to end hunger for good.

As inflation and the rising costs of food, housing, and utilities continue to impact the nine-county region we serve, individuals and families continue to struggle to put nutritious food on the table.

During this challenging time as our communities struggle to make ends meet and as food banks are stretched thin, we urge the United States Congress to protect and strengthen anti-hunger programs.

At Philabundance, our advocacy includes educating, engaging, and mobilizing our elected officials and community around policy issues that impact the people we serve. 

However, we cannot do it alone. Everyone has something to bring to the table in the fight against hunger. Your voice, your perspective, and your expertise truly does matter. There are several ways you can help us advocate.  

GOVERNMENT FOOD PROGRAMS

Most food assistance in this country comes from the government. Food banks like Philabundance rely on federal and state investments in critical anti-hunger programs to provide food to people facing hunger. Our Government Affairs team works diligently to educate legislators about the need to protect and expand these vital programs to ensure that no one in our community and beyond goes to bed knowing how they will get their next meal.

Visit Feeding America to learn more about federal food assistance programs, including eligibility and how to apply if applicable.   
Visit Hunger Free PA to learn more about state programs that fight hunger in Pennsylvania.

GET INVOLVED

Find your elected officials: Your elected officials represent YOU – learn who they are and how to contact them.  

Sign up to receive Advocacy Alerts: We’ll email you when the most critical actions are needed and let you know how to help.  

Explore our Advocacy Toolkit: Learn tools and strategies to be an effective advocate.

Share your experience: Philabundance works to elevate the voices of community members to influence lawmakers, so please, tell us how we can help you.

We thank you for joining our mission to end hunger now and hunger for good.

Philabundance Awards 49 Member Agencies with Capacity Grants

June 18, 2025

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.”