Programs & Services
Addressing Food Insecurity
Our grocery and meal programs operate through deliberate and meaningful partnerships with social service providers throughout Philadelphia, serving our community's most vulnerable neighbors including immigrants, children, homebound seniors, and people experiencing homelessness. This partnership model not only directly feeds individuals in need, but also respects relationships and trust those agencies have developed with their constituents and helps them increase their capacity and deepen the impact with their clients.
An important goal in these programs is to create dignity by providing food that is requested and wanted, tailored to household size and audience, sensitive to dietary restrictions, and culturally relevant. In addition, all the groceries and meals are delivered directly to each recipients’ home or existing gathering place to make receiving food a convenient process with as few barriers as possible. In addition, this strategy is scalable as the physical footprint of the program in our building is small as the food is quickly packed and delivered.
Grocery bags are filled with staple nonperishable and fresh foods. Meals are prepared freshly in our commercial kitchen and adds much needed variety and nutrition to those individuals diets.
These programs are possible with the support of dedicated volunteers from a wide variety of stakeholders in our community – including individuals, corporate groups, and faith partners.
Supporting Children & Families
Our Afterschool and Summer Camp programs welcome children from our local McCall, Meredith, Nebinger public schools, neighboring St. Peter’s School, and others across the city. Enrollment has more than doubled in the last year, primarily through positive referrals from existing families and has exceeded pre-pandemic levels. While registration fees are kept at an intentionally low cost to remain as accessible as possible, financial aid is given to any family who needs it.
New clubs and activities, snacks/meals, and field trips are included at no additional cost. We have developed partnerships with groups including the Girls Scouts, New Groove Music, Pennsylvania Wildlife Game Commission, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, Soccer Shots to offer unique enrichment activities. Our staff also plan and operate clubs such as crafting, Dungeons & Dragons, LEGO, and video game creation, designed with feedback from the children who participate.
Strong Afterschool and Summer Camp programs serve a critical role for children and their families. They are connected to positive outcomes, including improved grades, school attendance, and graduation rates.
Building Community Engagement
Our space is an affordable and accessible place for community groups, private party rentals, sports leagues, and educational and cultural events. Revenue earned from these activities help fund our low and no cost programs. More than twenty-five outside community organizations and small businesses operate in our building.
Volunteers are involved in all aspects of the organization’s work and offer meaningful opportunities for individuals and families, corporate groups, faith partners, as well as students in our Afterschool program and neighboring St. Peter’s School.