Autumn is the season of the harvest; the time to fill our pantries with the hearty foods that will be used during upcoming holiday celebrations and throughout the winter. While we are stocking our cupboards with canned chili, soups, stews and other cold weather staples, the supplies of those much needed items dwindle from the shelves of local food banks.
SEPTA customers can help the authority reap a bountiful harvest for Philabundance by participating in SEPTA’s sixth annual “Stop Hunger at Your Station” food drive from October 20-November 3. The items collected during the drive will ensure the shelves of local food banks served by Philabundance are full of necessary foodstuffs during the winter months.
“For the 900,000 people in the Philadelphia region struggling with hunger issues, fall can be a cruel season, one that raises concerns of how our less fortunate neighbors will feed their families and themselves when the impending cold, harsh weather arrives,” said SEPTA General Manager Joseph M. Casey. “The items we collect through the ‘Stop Hunger at Your Station’ food drive are crucial in helping Philabundance feed families across our region by keeping the shelves filled and the doors of its almost 450 member agencies open.”
SEPTA employee ambassadors and Philabundance volunteers kicked off the “Stop Hunger at Your Station” drive today at a kick-off hunger rally at Dilworth Park.
Philabundance provides food to approximately 75,000 people per week through almost 450 member agencies such as food cupboards, shelters and emergency kitchens. Of the low-income area residents served by the organization, 16 percent are senior citizens and 23 percent are children.
“Our partners at SEPTA truly understand the meaning of fighting hunger in our region,” said Mark Bender, interim executive director of Philabundance. “Each year, the ‘Stop Hunger at Your Station’ Food Drive collects a tremendous amount of food and raises awareness of hunger throughout our region. We could not feed 75,000 people each week without the support of our community partners like SEPTA and the SEPTA riders who donate to the drive.”
From October 20-November 3, SEPTA will collect donations of canned goods in marked barrels at 43 designated stations throughout the transit system. CCT customers wishing to participate will be able to give their canned good contributions to their vehicle operator. A specially-wrapped “Stop Hunger at Your Station” SEPTA bus will also tour the region throughout the food drive, collecting donations.
In 2013, SEPTA’s customers and employees contributed 25 tons of food, the equivalent of more than 50,000 meals. Since 2009, SEPTA customers and employees have donated approximately 90 tons to Philabundance. The community can participate in the 2014 drive by contributing the following items:
- Canned/Shelf-stable tuna
- Canned Pasta
- Canned Beef Stew
- Canned Chili
- Creamy Peanut Butter (plastic containers only, please)
- Jelly (plastic containers only, please)
- Canned Green Beans
- Canned Corn
- Canned Fruit
The public can also help feed neighbors in need by making a donation to Philabundance online at http://www.philabundance.org/septa or by contributing $10 by texting “Food” to 41010. For every dollar donated, Philabundance can provide two meals. Any monetary contribution will count toward the total collected through the SEPTA 2014 campaign.
Philabundance is the Greater Philadelphia region’s largest hunger-relief organization. In 2013, Philabundance distributed 30 million pounds of food across the Delaware Valley.
If you know someone in need of food assistance, tell them to call (800) 319-Food (3663). For any other questions about Philabundance, visit http://www.philabundance.org.
Collection Locations
Collection barrels will be available at 43 SEPTA locations. CCT customers may give food contributions to their drivers.
Center City Regional Rail Stations
- University City
- 30th Street
- Suburban Station
- Jefferson Station
Warminster Line
- Warminster
- Hatboro
- Glenside
Wilmington/Newark Line
- Prospect Park
- Marcus Hook
West Trenton Line
- Langhorne
- Somerton
- Jenkintown
Media/Elwyn Line
- Media
- Swarthmore
- Morton
Lansdale/Doylestown Line
- Lansdale
- Ambler
- Fort Washington
- North Wales
Paoli/Thorndale Line:
- Paoli
- Bryn Mawr
- Ardmore
Manayunk/Norristown Line
- Norristown
- East Falls
Chestnut Hill East Line
- Wyndmoor
- Stenton
Trenton Line
- Levittown
- Cornwells Heights
- Torresdale
Chestnut Hill West Line
- Chestnut Hill West
- Carpenter
Fox Chase Line
- Fox Chase
Market-Frankford Line
- 15th Street
- 30th Street
- 46th Street
Broad Street Line
- Fern Rock
- Walnut-Locust
- AT&T
Dilworth Park Station (15th and Market Streets)
Broad Street Line, Market-Frankford Line, Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36
69th Street Transportation Center
Bus and Trolley routes, Market-Frankford Line, Norristown High Speed Line
Frankford Transportation Center
Bus and Trackless Trolley routes, Market-Frankford Line
Olney Transportation Center
Bus routes, Broad Street Line
Norristown Transportation Center
Bus routes, Norristown High Speed Line