The pandemic has already wreaked havoc on those in most need of food and service, which unfortunately, has been disproportionately people of color. The looting of grocery stores and small businesses, while an understandable act of outrage and upset, has contributed to that food shortage and disparity. Please consider financial and food donations to these organizations, and volunteer if you can.
Philly Programs
Philabundance:
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging: https://www.pcacares.org/
As you know, seniors are severely under-served. Awesome Philly agency that provides all basic needs for a senior who may or may not be able to leave their house.
Food Connect: https://www.foodconnectgroup.com/
Very important service right now due to the looting! Food Connect is pick-up app similar to Instacart, Grubhub, etc. They are in need of drivers right now to pick food up from grocery stores and restaurants within Philly. Drivers pick the food up then distribute it to local food pantries, cupboards, distribution sites who do not have access to vehicles (which is most of them.)
These folks are a food bank up in the Northeast, so not very close to Drexel but they are AMAZING. They distribute an enormous amount of food to Philadelphia and are almost always in need of volunteers.
Manna: https://mannapa.org/
Manna is a meal service program similar to Meals on Wheels. They provide pre-made meals for folks with life-threatening illnesses.
Sharing Excess works with colleges and universities (including Drexel University) to do food pick-ups and drop-offs.
New Jersey Programs
Food Bank of South Jersey: https://foodbanksj.org/how-to-help/
Great food bank. Service a majority of South Jersey. They have had a lot of success with their drive-thru distribution methods when COVID first hit.
Touch NJ: http://touchnewjersey.org/
Located in Camden, these people push out A LOT of food with very limited resources. They also offer a gleaning program were volunteers go to local South Jersey farms and harvest what is remaining in the fields after the production harvest.
