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11:22

cmorgan - Hi this is Carey Morgan. I will be answering questions in a few minutes.

12:08

cmorgan - Hi everyone, happy to answer any questions.

12:09

[Comment From Maggie]
Can you tell me more about the project the coalition is working on to help pantries, please? Thank you.

12:11

cmorgan - Absolutely, Maggie. The Coalition has launched the Victory in Partnership Project (VIP) in order to help food pantries and soup kitchens coordinate efforts on a neighborhood level. The Coalition will introduce the pantries to one another, offer them training, and then help them get food and funds for their programs. There are about 700 pantries and kitchens right here in Philadelphia!!

12:13

[Comment From Phil]
Thanks for the article. What can I do to help some of these food pantries?

12:14

cmorgan - Pantries are very much in need of your support. What they need most is food and funds. And some of them also need committed and reliable volunteers who are willing to help out consistently. The Coalition can connect you with pantries in your neighborhood if you call 215-430-0555.

12:30

[Comment From Danny]
How big of a problem is hunger in Philadelphia anyway? Aren't they all just homeless people?

12:30

cmorgan - No, actually many of Philadelphia's hungry are working. About 25% of Philadelphia's population live under the poverty line. Many are working, but their wages are too low to cover the cost of basic needs like food, shelter, and heat. The largest growing group of those at risk for hunger are those who have been hit hard by the recession. They never expected to be in the position they are in and don't know where to turn. Food stamps are a huge help in putting food on the table and about 380,000 in Philadelphia are reliant on food stamps. Others turn to the pantries if they are not eligible or if their food stamps run out at the end of the month. It takes many solutions to feed the hungry.

12:31

[Comment From Anna]
Hi Carey-- what do you think can be done to make the emergency food system more efficient?

12:36

cmorgan - Hi Anna. Thanks for your question. It's going to take a lot of different approaches to make the system more efficient. The key is partnership. First, food pantries and soup kitchens need to partner with eachother in order to better coordinate efforts. Pantries in the same area should know about one another and know where to send clients if they have run out of food. Second, partnerships between feeding programs and other partners like supermarkets and corporations to get more resources into their communities. Stroehmann Bakeries, with their partners Acme Food Markets and Giant Food Stores, are partnering to donate 10 cents of every sale of King Break and Dutch Country Whole Wheat to food pantries in the region. Partnerships will make things happen.

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