GREATER PHILADELPHIA COALITION AGAINST HUNGER

AT THE COALITION WE WORK TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE FOOD THEY NEED TO LIVE HEALTHY LIVES. WE USE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH WORKING TO MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS, PROVIDE SHORT TERM RELIEF, AND FIGHT FOR LASTING SOLUTIONS. OUR WORK FALLS INTO FOUR AREAS; CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH FOOD RESOURCES INCREASING ACCESS TO SNAP BENEFITS STRENGTHENING LOCAL FOOD NETWORKS ADVOCATING FOR FOOD SECURE COMMUNITIES WE CONNECT PEOPLE WITH FOOD RESOURCES THIS YEAR WE WORKED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FOOD RESOURCES BY CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION TO OUR CLIENTS AND PARTNERS, THROUGH OUR SNAP HOTLINE, SUMMER MEALS HOTLINE, AND THE SUMMER MEALS AND PANTRY MAPS THAT WE HOST ON OUR WEBSITE. WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ACROSS THE REGION TO ENSURE EASE OF ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES CLIENTS NEED. WE INCREASE ACCESS TO SNAP BENEFITS THIS YEAR WE WORKED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO SNAP BENEFITS THROUGH OUTREACH AND OUR SNAP HOTLINE. OUR SNAP HOTLINE HELPS HOUSEHOLDS NAVIGATE THE SNAP APPLICATION PROCESS, SUBMITS APPLICATIONS ON THEIR BEHALF, AND ADVOCATES WITH COUNTY ASSISTANCE OFFICES TO ENSURE ALL HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVE THE BENEFITS THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR. WE STRENGTHEN LOCAL FOOD NETWORKS THIS YEAR THROUGH OUR VICTORY IN PARTNERSHIP NETWORK (VIPN), WE CONVENED LEADERS WHO RUN COMMUNITY FOOD PROGRAMS SUCH AS FOOD PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS, AND COMMUNITY FRIDGES THROUGHOUT PHILADELPHIA. WE WORKED TO BUILD A COLLABORATIVE AND EFFECTIVE PHILADELPHIA ANTI-HUNGER NETWORK THROUGH HOSTING WORKSHOPS, SHARING INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NETWORKING, AND CONNECTING THEM TO FUNDING AND FOOD FOR THEIR PROGRAMS. WE ADVOCATE FOR FOOD SECURE COMMUNITIES THIS YEAR THROUGH OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS WE WORKED TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT CURRENT ANTI-HUNGER POLICIES AND PROGRAMS, ADVANCE INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ENDING HUNGER, AND BUILD A NETWORK OF INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN BUILDING A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE HAVE THE FOOD THEY NEED TO LEAD HEALTHY LIVES.