Fighting Hunger in Philadelphia

https://vimeo.com/18395140]

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The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger is doing all it can to fight hunger in Philadelphia. Hunger is a big problem in Philadelphia as more than one in four residents is considered at risk for hunger. Half of these residents are children or senior citizens. The organization fights hunger though education, outreach and advocacy.

“We really work to fight hunger at all levels from the immediate need that food pantries and soup kitchens provide to the short-term assistance that food stamps can provide to help families make ends meet,” Executive Director Carey Morgan said. “Then we take what we learn on the ground and we develop policy solutions to help prevent hunger in the long term.”

The organization was founded in 1996 and addresses hunger through three main programs. The Hunger Fighters Network supports many of Philadelphia’s estimated 700 food pantries and soup kitchens. The Food Stamp Campaign helps eligible Philadelphia residents obtain food stamps (now called SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) by providing a food stamp hotline, in-person screening and application assistance and handling case management needs. The Policy Center uses the data gained through the work with food pantries and food stamp applicants to promote more progressive policies in the Philadelphia region.

The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger’s Food Stamp Campaign has been successful since the 2002 launch of the USDA funded program. More than 400,000 Philadelphians receive SNAP benefits. That’s a quarter of the city’s population and there are still more than 150,000 residents eligible for SNAP benefits that currently do not receive them. The Coalition has helped more than 38,500 households get their benefits. It also screens more than 7,000 residents each year to receive food stamps.

There are many misconceptions about food stamps. Food stamp benefits cannot be used to buy things like cigarettes, alcohol, medicine or cleaning supplies but instead are used to purchase cold foods and items like spices and seeds to promote growing a garden. One major problem is the availability of grocery stores in Philadelphia for residents to use their food stamps.

“They can use their food stamps at corner stores, at major grocery stores and at farmer’s markets,” policy manager Rachel Meeks said. “We always encourage keeping food dollars in the local agricultural economy and we love when people can use their food stamps at farmer’s markets. We’re excited to see new grocery stores like the Fresh Grocer right by Temple that just went up with state support.”

The Food Stamp Hotline helps residents apply for their SNAP benefits over the phone. The hotline is run by staff and volunteer screeners and has been a huge success, especially recently. The hotline screened 61 percent more residents for SNAP benefits and submitted 71 percent more applications this year than the previous fiscal year. The coalition also trains volunteers to conduct screenings and help fill out applications at health centers. It also advocates for current participants or applicants wrongly denied their SNAP benefits. A majority of the 100-plus cases put in front of them are resolved each month.

The coalition is also home to a few AmeriCorps VISTA members. AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. VISTA members serve full-time for one year at a nonprofit organization working to fight illiteracy, hunger, poverty and more. As part of the VISTA program, members voluntarily live under the poverty line and receive SNAP benefits. VISTA member Margaret Lyford admitted that there can be some problems with the food stamp program.

“I’ve had some difficulties getting my food stamps even though it’s my job to get other people their food stamps,” Lyford said. “I did know who to call and what to do. I knew that I had done everything right but that’s because I do it all the time.”

The number of residents in Philadelphia receiving SNAP benefits increased 14 percent from Dec. 2008 to Dec. 2009. That increase can be attributed in part to the programs set up by the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger. The Coalition continues to work to reach the more than 150,000 eligible residents still not receiving SNAP benefits. Hunger is a daunting and lingering problem in Philadelphia as the city is home to more than a quarter of all food stamp participants in Pennsylvania.

The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger’s biggest fundraiser is coming up on Saturday, April 10. The Walk Against Hunger and new 5K run helps to raise more than $250,000 for food pantries in Philadelphia and the surrounding area. For more information or to register for the event, visit the Web site.

For more information on hunger in Philadelphia, contact the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger at 215-769-0659. To apply for SNAP benefits over the phone call the Food Stamp Hotline at 215-430-0556. The office is located at 1725 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19130. Information on all programs is also available on this Web site.

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