If you have ever competed in or attended a race, you probably have seen the bounty of energy bars, sports drinks, and water that await the runners at the finish line. Organizers always have way more than they can possibly distribute, and what's left over often ends up being thrown in the trash.
But that didn't happen at the Rock ‘N’ Roll Philadelphia Half-Marathon on September 17 because, for the second year in a row, Gentle Giant Moving Company of Philadelphia was there to rescue all of that perfectly good food and get it to the people who need it most. Because of their efforts, more than 7,500 pounds of food and beverages were delivered to Philabundance last week.
More than 725,000 people are food insecure in the greater Philadelphia area. Even as hunger and poverty has declined nationally, Philadelphia continues to struggle. The city remains the poorest among the 10 most populous cities in the United States and childhood hunger in North Philadelphia has more than tripled over the past 10 years. Kathy Fisher, policy director at the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that she "continues to see very high demand for food assistance across the city."
It's against this backdrop that we can understand just how vital it is that the food banks and pantries in the city have enough on hand to meet the need, and that's why the work Gentle Giant is doing is so important. Since last August, Gentle Giant of Philadelphia has delivered more than 29,000 pounds of food/beverages to Philabundance.
We're so proud to have partners like Gentle Giant who dedicate so much of their time to give back to the communities they serve. Thank you to Andrew Rozzi and the rest of the crew in Philadelphia for reminding us what Brotherly Love is all about!
Learn more about Food Rescues and how your company can get involved.
Fight hunger in your hometown by hosting a food drive this fall.
