Philabundance’s shelves are well-stocked, thanks to the generosity of SEPTA customers and employees, who contributed 19 tons of food during the authority’s fourth annual “Stop Hunger at Your Station” food drive. The 2012 total is up from 17.8 tons of food collected last year.
The food donated by SEPTA customers and employees will provide more than 37,900 meals for families and children in need. “The continued support of this food drive by our customers and employees is amazing,” said SEPTA General Manager Joseph Casey. “Summer is an especially difficult time for parents trying to feed their families, as many children no longer receive the free and reduced-cost breakfasts and lunches they get during the school year. The tons of food collected during SEPTA’s drive will make a significant difference for these families in need.”
During the three-week food drive, held June 4-22, SEPTA collected donations of canned and boxed goods at 45 designated stations throughout the transit system. A specially wrapped “Stop Hunger at Your Station” SEPTA bus toured the region throughout the food drive, collecting items such as peanut butter, jelly, canned pasta and tuna. Monetary donations received during the food drive also counted towards SEPTA’s overall collection total.
Since 2009, SEPTA customers and employees have donated more than 65 tons of food to Philabundance.
Philabundance is the largest hunger-relief organization in the Delaware Valley, serving nine counties and feeding 65,000 people every week. In 2011, Philabundance distributed 19 million pounds of food in its service area and an additional two million pounds to other area food banks.
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.