SEPTA employees and customers will once again partner to drive hunger out of our communities in the Greater Philadelphia region during the authority’s 10th annual “Stop Hunger at Your Station” food drive from June 18-22. Since 2009, the authority’s employees and riders have demonstrated their compassion toward their neighbors in need by teaming up with Philabundance and its members agencies to fight hunger during SEPTA’s annual “Stop Hunger at Your Station” food drive.
“Every year, our staff and customers have come through to provide meals – almost 280,000 in fact – for those in need across our service region,” said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel. “It is amazing that each year for the past nine food drives, we have surpassed the previous year’s collection total.”
Summer is an especially important time to for food banks. When school is out, students no longer receive the free and reduced-cost meals they are given during the academic year. Many of these children will go without the nutritious food they need to grow and flourish.
“While kids are out of school for the summer, hunger doesn’t take a vacation,” said Glenn Bergman, Executive Director of Philabundance. “Nearly 400,000 of the youngest members of our community rely on school meals, making summer a challenging time to keep hunger at bay. This key partnership helps keep children’s bellies full, and provides them the nutrients they need to return to school in the fall ready to learn.”
Philabundance provides food to approximately 90,000 people per week in nine counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey through its own food distribution programs, as well as through 350 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 30 percent are children.
From June 18-22, 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.
In 2017, SEPTA customers and employees contributed almost the equivalent of almost 35,000 meals for Philabundance and its member agencies. Since 2009, SEPTA customers and employees have donated almost 280,000 meals. The community can participate in the 2018 drive by contributi ng 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 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 2018 campaign.
Philabundance is the Greater Philadelphia region’s largest hunger-relief organization. In fiscal year 2017, Philabundance distributed approximately 25 million pounds of food across the Delaware Valley.
If you know someone in need of food assistance, tell them to call 1-800-5-Hungry. For any other questions about Philabundance, visit 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: 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 Line
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 Lines
Olney Transportation Center
- Bus routes, Broad Street Line
Norristown Transportation Center
- Bus routes, Norristown High Speed Line