The steps at the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art are the setting for one of the most memorable scenes in the history of American cinema. Rocky Balboa climbed all 72 steps nearly 40 years ago and gave hope to anyone who's ever faced a seemingly unconquerable obstacle. This past weekend, in the shadow of those very steps, a group of everyday men and women spent an afternoon attempting to do their part to help us overcome one the greatest challenges facing the United States today: ending the hunger and food waste epidemic.
Gentle Giant Moving Company of Philadelphia volunteered its time and resources on Sunday, September 18 to pick-up nearly 11,500 pounds of unused food/beverages from the Rock ‘N’ Roll Philadelphia Half-Marathon on September 18 and delivered it to Philabundance. On top of that, several members of the staff competed in the race and raised $500 for Team Move For Hunger.
Nearly 22% of the population in Philadelphia County is food insecure, including one in five children. Meanwhile, nearly 40% of all food produced in the United States each year is lost or wasted.
“It’s great working with Move For Hunger and giving back to our community in whatever way possible,” said Andrew Rozzi, Gentle Giant’s Philadelphia Regional Manager. "For the price of a couple of hours of labor and space on an already empty truck, we were able to team up with the Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon and bring more than 11,000 pounds of food to Philabundance for those who need it most.”
September is Hunger Action Month, when Feeding America and member food banks ask everyone in America to take action to fight hunger in their community, all month long. Adults who suffer from hunger live shorter, less healthy, and less happy lives. They are more likely to be obese, more prone to mental illness, and more susceptible to deadly diseases. Hunger is terrible for adults, but it’s so much worse for children. Hunger and malnourishment go hand-in-hand, and kids who don’t receive proper nutrition during their critical years of growth will be dramatically disadvantaged for the remainder of their lives.
“Here in the Delaware Valley, nearly 750,000 residents are at risk for hunger and malnutrition,” said Elizabeth Jabco, Philabundance’s Food Drive Coordinator, Food Acquisition. “We are so grateful to have partners in the community that are joining us in the fight against hunger. Without their help, our mission would not be possible.”
It's been quite a few months for the Gentle Giant Moving Company. In June, the Seattle branch rescued over 17,000 pounds of food from the Rock 'N' Roll Seattle Marathon & Half-Marathon. The crew in Brooklyn fought summer hunger by saving nearly 3,000 pounds of leftover food from the New York City Triathlon in July. And just last month, the team in Philadelphia gleaned over 8,000 pounds of fresh corn from farms in Southern New Jersey.
Nearly 50 million Americans struggle with food insecurity; 1 in 5 children will go to bed hungry tonight. There's clearly a long way to go before we can celebrate a victory, but efforts like this one serve as a reminder of the extraordinary things ordinary people are capable of. Thank you, Gentle Giant, for your continued support!
We need more everyday heroes to get in the ring. You can host a food drive in your community this fall and we'd love to help! Contact us today to get started.
