# Mantua: Food Not Bombs

https://vimeo.com/20472899 A heavenly aroma spills outs from a bubbling pot of potato squash soup in the basement of the Cavalry Church. Claire Smith quickly turns down the burner and goes back to preparing three large trays of savory brussel sprouts. Paul Divido and Anna Jacobs take turns kneading dough to turn into luscious cinnamon buns. In an hour’s time the three volunteers have created a veritable feast to feed up to 80 people. All the food used was salvaged from grocery stores and bakeries across the city that would have otherwise been thrown in the garbage. For the past 10 years The West Philadelphia Food Not Bombs have recovered food that is just past its selling date and used it to feed people in need. Setting up at 5 p.m. every Wednesday in Clark Park at 50th and Baltimore, the organization provides vegetarian and vegan food to approximately 50 to 80 people. The group has no corporate backing and is very loosely organized by one or two people at time. It is a collective of three to four volunteers from the community who get together each week to help those in need in their own neighborhoods. [![Tim Dunn enjoys a hot meal,](https://phillyn-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/26024356/DSC02184-300x225.jpg)](https://philadelphianeighborhoods.com/2009/11/11/mantua-food-not-bombs/dsc02184/)Tim Dunn enjoys a hot meal,

 

A heavenly aroma spills outs from a bubbling pot of potato squash soup in the basement of the Cavalry Church. Claire Smith quickly turns down the burner and goes back to preparing three large trays of savory brussel sprouts. Paul Divido and Anna Jacobs take turns kneading dough to turn into luscious cinnamon bums. In an hour’s time the three volunteers have created a veritable feast to feed up to 80 people. All the food used was salvaged from grocery stores and bakeries across the city that would have otherwise been thrown in the garbage.

For the past 10 years The West Philadelphia Food Not Bombs has recovered food that is just past its selling date and uses it to feed people in need. Setting up at 5 p.m. every Wednesday in Clark Park, 50th and Baltimore, the organization provides vegetarian and vegan food to approximately 50-80 people—rain or shine. The group has no corporate backing and is very loosely organized by one or two people at time. It is a collective of three to four volunteers from the community who get together each week to help those in need in their own neighborhoods.