PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — City Council President Darrell Clarke and the Office of Children and Families teamed up with Philabundance and the Philadelphia Housing Authority for a holiday pop-up food distribution event in North Philadelphia on Wednesday.
Each person who showed up at the John F. Street Community Center was given 12 pounds of non-perishable food and 10 pounds of fresh produce.
“They’re getting potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, carrots and cabbage,” said Philabundance CEO Loree Jones. “What we really love about that is it provides people with what they need to make healthy meals for days for their families.”
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This was a holiday event, but food insecurity is an everyday issue. Jones said this area in particular, near 10th and Poplar streets, has a dire need.
“They did have some food stores close within the last couple of months,” she said. “The city reached out to us and said people don’t have a way to walk down the street, but fresh produce, can you help with that?”
Clarke noted 400,000 people live below the poverty level in the city.
“I represent Center City,” said Clarke, “and you see the revelry and excitement around the skating rink and Christmas Village, but up in other parts of my district, people are really struggling.
“People are having challenges affording basic services, so we’re going to be doing these pop-ups across the district.”
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Starting next year, organizers will be using a location at 10th and Poplar streets for a weekly food distribution and farmers market.