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Summer is a Cruel Season for Children Facing Food Insecurity

Summer is a Cruel Season for Children Facing Food Insecurity

SEPTA's Ninth Annual "Stop Hunger at Your Station" Food Drive Begins June 12th

Category: Press Release
Published

From June 12-23, SEPTA customers can impact thousands of school-aged children by helping fight hunger in the Greater Philadelphia region by participating in SEPTA’s ninth annual “Stop Hunger at Your Station” food drive. Kicking off the event was SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel, Philabundance Executive Director Glenn Bergman and SEPTA employee ambassadors at Philabundance’s Hunger Relief Center in South Philadelphia. The two organizations teamed up in response to the thousands of students who no longer receive the free, nutritious and reduced-cost meals they are given when school is in session.

Prior to the kick-off, SEPTA employees volunteered at the Hunger Relief Center, sorting and packing donations. “For the past eight years, we’ve collected tons of food for Philabundance, but you can’t grasp the impact the donations will have with helping families in need until you visit the Hunger Relief Center,” said Knueppel. “From collecting the cans and boxes of food to sorting and packing them for distribution – it is an amazing operation. It is also a wake-up call to how prevalent hunger is in the Greater Philadelphia region.”

Philabundance, the Greater Philadelphia region’s largest hunger-relief organization, has seen a 26 percent increase in need over the past year, compared to a 22 percent increase from the year before. The agency 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, 15 percent are senior citizens and 30 percent are children. In fiscal year 2014, Philabundance distributed approximately 30 million pounds of food across the Delaware Valley.

“With 300,000 children in our area facing hunger in the summer when they lose their school meals, we hope the public will participate in SEPTA’s Stop Hunger at Your Station Food Drive to help drive hunger from our communities,” said Glenn Bergman, Executive Director of Philabundance. “Thanks to the generosity of SEPTA, its employees and riders, to date, the cause has raised over 260,000 meals for our neighbors in need.”

During the food drive, 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 2016, SEPTA’s customers and employees contributed almost 15,500 pounds of food – or 15,500 meals for Philabundance and its member agencies. Monetary gifts of approximately $7,500 received during the food drive mean an additional 15,000 meals. Since 2009, SEPTA customers and employees have donated approximately 139,000 pounds of food. With monetary contributions of $62,000, SEPTA customers and employees have given the equivalent of over 264,000 meals. The community can participate in the 2017 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 https://www.philabundance.org/septa-stop-hunger-at-your-station-2017/, 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 2017 campaign.

If you know someone in need of food assistance, tell them to call 1-866-3-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

  • 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