Great Food for People in Great Need

Broad Street Love annually serves more than 7,000 Philadelphians experiencing deep poverty and provides stabilizing services including daily lunch, mail service, case management concierge, reentry support, personal care and clothing. BSL also partners with other organizations to offer housing assistance, medical and behavioral health services, public benefits, and legal assistance. BSL practices radical hospitality, presenting an open, welcome, and safe space where every guest is embraced with empathy and care. Guests regularly demonstrate improved physical and psychological health.

Since 1980, Bucks County Housing Group (BCHG) has helped neighbors across Bucks County access safe housing, nutritious food, and compassionate support. What began as a grassroots response to rising housing instability and food insecurity has evolved into a comprehensive support system for people in need.

That evolution is reflected in their reach today. In the 2023–2024 fiscal year, BCHG provided over 73,000 nights of shelter, 6,300 pantry visits, and reached more than 22,000 people through a combination of pantries, mobile markets, and community-based food programs. These efforts are part of BCHG’s broader commitment to helping people not just get by, but move forward. With 87 affordable rental units and a HUD-approved counseling program, BCHG offers long-term solutions that extend far beyond emergency relief.

BCHG’s work is strengthened through a strong network of community partnerships that deliver the holistic support people need to move forward. Together, they’re not just meeting needs—they're investing in futures built on dignity, resilience, and hope.

When a family faces hunger or the threat of losing their home, Bucks County Opportunity Council (BCOC) is there—with nourishing food, safe shelter, and unwavering support. Since 1965, BCOC has walked alongside people in crisis, helping them move from hardship to hope through programs grounded in dignity, compassion, and care.

Last year alone, BCOC distributed more than 3.3 million pounds of food—reaching 10,000 households through 89,000 pantry visits, mobile markets, and over 5,100 monthly food boxes for seniors. Their Economic Self-Sufficiency Program provides personalized coaching, education, and job support to help people build lasting financial independence. Through free tax preparation (VITA), BCOC also helped families claim more than $1.5 million in refunds—relieving financial stress and creating opportunities to catch up on bills, pay for transportation, or start saving for the future.

This kind of meaningful, measurable change doesn’t happen alone. It’s made possible by a strong network of community partnerships. Together, they remind every person served that they matter. Because at BCOC, food means dignity. Housing means hope. And every service is a step toward a stronger, more resilient future.

Cathedral Kitchen helps people out of food insecurity and champions their pursuit of stability and prosperity. CK addresses the immediate needs of vulnerable residents and breaks down barriers to long-term self-sufficiency. Their Meal Program feeds over 3,000 Camden residents annually and moves them beyond hunger by connecting them to stabilizing services. CK’s Culinary Arts Training program prepares economically marginalized individuals for sustained employment and their social enterprise program provides jobs to marginalized Camden residents.

Double Trellis Food Initiative (DTFI) transforms lives through food. Launched in 2020, DTFI began by providing nourishing meals to Philadelphia communities in crisis. Co-Founder Matthew Stebbins, a culinary professional who overcame housing and food insecurity as well as substance abuse, saw firsthand how food could be a lifeline–to uplift individuals, rebuild lives, and strengthen communities. His journey became the catalyst for DTFI’s mission to restore dignity and create lasting change through food.

Fueled by Matthew’s vision and lived experience, DTFI has grown from a grassroots effort into a vital force for food justice. Today, DTFI serves over 50,000 free, near-zero-waste meals annually across 14 Philadelphia zip codes while equipping formerly incarcerated young adults with paid culinary training. In addition, DTFI combats food waste by rescuing 40,000 pounds of produce and diverting 10,000 pounds of kitchen waste via salvage and composting.

Through partnerships, DTFI extends its impact beyond food, addressing economic opportunity and social equity. With dignity, sustainability, and empowerment at its core, DTFI is building a stronger, more resilient community–one meal, one job, one future at a time.

Face to Face is a human services organization dedicated to the health, well-being, and stability of the Germantown community. They meet basic human needs and reduce suffering, providing the tools people need to confront personal challenges and fulfill their potential. Founded by volunteers in 1984 to prepare and serve meals to low-income neighbors, Face to Face has evolved into a full-service organization that today provides free hot meals cooked from scratch; legal, health, and social services; a high-quality pre-K Head Start Program and an educational equity program—all under one roof.

Since 1980, this Lambertville-based nonprofit has responded to the evolving needs of its community with compassion, creativity, and deep local roots. What began as a grassroots effort has grown into a multi-service organization supporting over 1,900 individuals annually across Hunterdon County and surrounding areas.

Food support remains at the core of its mission—from the Free MARKet pantry and Mobile MARKet home deliveries to the FLY (Feeding Local Youth) lunch program—but it’s just one part of the larger picture. Fisherman’s Mark also provides emergency financial assistance, case management, bilingual outreach through Los Puentes (the Bridges), early childhood education at Lambertville Academy, and an ESL program serving nearly 70 adults annually.

What sets Fisherman’s Mark apart is its approach: welcoming, inclusive, and grounded in dignity. Every service reflects the belief that support should be accessible, empowering, and tailored to individual needs. From feeding families to crisis relief to language learning, Fisherman’s Mark shows up with heart and humanity. In a world where many systems feel out of reach, Fisherman’s Mark reminds us what it means to care—building connection, restoring hope, and strengthening community, one neighbor at a time.

Philadelphia’s largest and longest-running shelter, Philly House provides a safe, clean refuge off the streets along with deep, intentional engagement to see a long-term impact. The faith-based organization offers warm beds and hot meals, and is committed to treating everyone with dignity and compassion. In 2022, PH sheltered 1,949 men experiencing homelessness. Philly House is also the city’s only provider of three meals a day, 365 days a year, serving more than 10,000 meals each month.

Founded in 2010, Philly Urban Creators uses food, art, and education as tools to nurture resilience and self-determination and to support a new generation of Urban Creators, organizers, artists, growers, and local businesses building equity in their neighborhood. Their Life Do Grow (LDG) Farm, a Neighborhood Creative Commons in the heart of North Central Philadelphia, includes an urban farm, public park, outdoor classroom, community marketplace, and co-working/co-creation space where all energy is generated from solar panels and all water is collected from rain catchment systems. The farm is also a canvas for ingenuity; a safe-space to explore boundaries, discover passions, and experiment with new ideas; a hub for community to organize, build equity, and foster economic opportunity; and an organic garden where everyone can connect with the earth and one another.

Since 1989, Project HOME has worked to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty in Philadelphia by addressing its root causes—mental illness, substance use, and systemic inequity. What began as a winter shelter has grown into a nationally recognized model providing permanent supportive housing, healthcare, education, employment services, and street outreach.

Across 24 sites, Project HOME has developed more than 1,000 affordable housing units and operates emergency housing for individuals coming directly from the street. With approximately 600 beds across six emergency sites, Project HOME serves three nutritious meals a day, seven days a week—exclusively to residents of these programs. Guests often describe the food as “restaurant-quality”—a daily source of comfort, dignity, and stability. These meals, along with a monthly community food pantry and cherished traditions like the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Feast, are made possible through a network of dedicated community partners.

Beyond nourishment, these experiences foster connection, healing, and a sense of home. Guests share stories of improved health, discovering new favorite vegetables, and the simple comfort of a well-prepared, quiet breakfast. Whether it’s a shared meal, a cooking class, or fresh produce delivered to their door, each moment helps build a more hopeful and connected future.

For over a century, the Rescue Mission of Trenton (The Mission) has been a beacon of hope for individuals experiencing homelessness—offering shelter, hope and opportunities. Over the years, The Mission has evolved from providing a warm meal and a safe place to sleep into a comprehensive support system that transforms lives.

Last year alone, under the dedicated leadership of CEO Barrett Young—who has served The Mission for 20 years—4,668 people found refuge, experiencing 51,962 nights of shelter, with 222,961 meals nourishing those in need, while also bringing a sense of warmth and hope to their lives. Beyond shelter and meals, The Mission provides vital case management, connecting individuals with healthcare, behavioral counseling, addiction treatment, and financial assistance—empowering 121 people to secure permanent housing. Through vocational training, community outreach, and supportive housing, The Mission creates pathways to stability and independence.

Guided by dignity, trust, and compassion, The Mission ensures that every person who walks through their doors is seen, supported, and given a path to stability and renewed hope.

When a child is seriously ill, nothing matters more than staying close. Founded in 1974 in Philadelphia, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region (RMHC Philly) was created to ease the emotional and financial burden families face while caring for a seriously ill child far from home. Today, RMHC Philly operates two Houses, three in-hospital Family Rooms, a mobile dental clinic, and a summer camp for kids with cancer and their siblings—each designed to provide comfort, stability, and connection. In 2024, they supported over 2,500 family stays, offering home-cooked meals, lodging, transportation, and emotional care at no cost.

These services offer more than convenience—they create a sense of normalcy when life feels anything but. By serving nutrient-dense meals and offering space to rest and recharge, RMHC Philly helps caregivers stay close to their child and focus on what matters most: healing. Families often report less stress, more connection, and greater peace of mind.

This support is made possible through a caring network of community partners, donors, and volunteers who meet families’ daily needs with dignity and compassion—reminding every family they’re not alone.

Since 1998, St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children has worked to make health equity a reality for Philadelphia’s children, focusing especially on those in underserved communities who face systemic barriers to care. Formed in response to gaps that emerged when the hospital shifted to for-profit status, the Foundation works to remove obstacles that affect long-term well-being—like access to dental care, fresh food, and nutrition education.

Their mobile dental clinic reaches more than 1,800 children annually, providing free preventative and restorative services. Fresh to You, a produce distribution program launched in 2020, serves over 500 people each year with fresh, organic food delivered directly to families facing financial, transportation, and other barriers to healthy food. This work is made possible through partnerships with local farms, food access nonprofits, and community organizations who help source, pack, and deliver the food.

The Foundation also runs My Family Kitchen, a hands-on cooking program that reaches more than 160 fifth graders and 650 family members annually. The program helps children gain confidence in the kitchen, build practical skills, and connect with their families over nutritious, home-prepared meals. Together, these programs nourish health, restore dignity, and strengthen the path to a more equitable future for every child.

In the early days of the pandemic, a group of chefs and neighbors came together to cook free meals for seniors, low-income families, and frontline workers in South Philadelphia. From that seed of mutual aid, The People’s Kitchen of Philadelphia (PKP) has grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working at the intersection of food justice, community care, and health equity.

Each week, PKP serves more than 100 free meals a day—no questions asked—to neighbors across South and Southwest Philadelphia. Meals are thoughtfully prepared using whole, minimally processed ingredients that nourish both body and spirit. The kitchen also supports mutual aid groups, maintains a 24/7 community fridge and pantry, and offers cooking classes, outreach meals, and food education to build confidence and deepen community connection.

More than half of those PKP serves are senior immigrants, predominantly Chinese, Southeast Asian, and Latino, who often face language and economic barriers that limit access to traditional resources. For these neighbors and many others, PKP offers more than a meal. It provides a trusted source of nourishment, connection, and care. With the support of dedicated community partners, the PKP continues to expand its reach and deepen its impact, transforming food access in Philadelphia one shared meal at a time.