PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The week before the week of Thanksgiving is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, and Broad Street Love is partnering with area chefs to serve feasts for those in need.
Philadelphia is America’s poorest big city, with many surviving on an average salary of $15,000 a year.
“From folks that are unhoused to the working poor, the work that we do is really aimed at stabilizing situations and ensuring that those folks have the foundations in place needed so that they can thrive and take the next step,” said Larry Downey, director of development for Broad Street Love.
The nonprofit strives to be a community for people to find connections and feel the support of what Downey calls radical hospitality.
“We're here to connect. We really want to learn about people and their backgrounds. What that does is it builds a relationship and it builds trust and it reminds folks that they have value just because of who they are,” he said.
All year long, the organization feeds lunch to more than 400 people a day, serving anyone who needs a meal, no questions asked. But this week, it is kicking it up a notch with the help of local chefs, who are whipping up entrees like turkey pot pie and pasta bolognese.
“We’ve got executive chef Paul Zelinsky from Winkel,” said Downey. “We’ve got executive chef Adam Diltz from Elwood Restaurant, and what he’s serving for our guests is an open-faced turkey sandwich.”
The sit-down lunches are always open to the public. Volunteers are welcome. Learn more at broadstreetlove.org.