By Lisa Ryan, Communications Associate

At Philabundance, May brought an exciting new development that will usher in major growth for the organization, and also led us into the ninth year of Phans Feeding Families day with the Philadelphia Phillies and Citizens Bank.

The following press coverage raised awareness of our mission, our partners and the fight against hunger:

1. PCK Groundbreaking

One small scoop of earth will lead to a major expansion of the community impact and educational capabilities of Philabundance Community Kitchen (PCK), our culinary- and life-skills training program. On May 6, we broke ground on a new, 18,800-square-foot facility for PCK, which has outgrown its current home in a city shelter. At present, PCK serves between 80 to 100 students each year, and provides 250,000 meals for those in need in the community. In the new facility, at 2224 North 10th Street, PCK will train more students and quadruple the number of meals staff and students produce for the community. Not only that, but the new PCK building will transform a vacant lot into a community space.

6abc, CBS3, FOX29, KYW newsradio, NPR, The Philadelphia Business Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer and philly.com, Scoop USA, The Philadelphia Tribune, WHYY, WMMR, and The Yeadon Times all covered our groundbreaking and helped spread the word about this life-changing program.

2. Phans – And Aaron Nola – Feeding Families

For nine years, along with Citizens Bank, the Phillies have been big hitters in the fight against hunger; we teamed up again for the annual hunger-fighting initiative Phans Feeding Families. This year, Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola was our ambassador and helped strike out hunger at the June 8 game. Phans has given over 1 million meals to families in need since its rookie season. Each summer, approximately 400,000 children in our area don’t know where their next meal will come from throughout summer break, when they lose their school meals. Each year, Phans helps feed them and raises awareness of the hunger crisis in our area.

6abc, CBS3, FOX29, KYW newsradio, MLB.com, MLB baseball radio, NBC10 and the NBC Sports Network, The South Philly Review, WPEN and WPHT all covered the event.

3. BYOB, But Cheese Is On Us

South Philadelphia BYOB Musi earned a favorable review from The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Craig LaBan last month. Some of his compliments to the chef mentioned the restaurant’s spin on a cheesesteak, a local staple that Musi tops with cheddar from Philabundance’s Abundantly Good retail brand.

The brand’s upcycled foods helps those we serve AND the environment. Abundantly Good cheese sales go to providing free cheese to people facing hunger AND rescue food that would otherwise go to waste.

Other Press Highlights:

• The ClassH-Room – Team Preston vs. Team Steve via The ClassH Room
• Trump administration mulling changes to how poverty is calculated, possibly cutting aid for those in need via The Philadelphia Inquirer
• One person’s downsizing becomes a new citizen’s treasure via Mother Jones
• Why we celebrate Economic Independence Day via The Philadelphia Business Journal
• Learning is a community effort at Gideon via The Philadelphia Tribune
• < Commentary: How you can help in a city of food insecurity via The Chestnut Hill Local
• Ugly fruits and veggies delivered to your door – stoop thieves be damned via Billy Penn