SEPTA‘s generous customers and employees have come through once again for their neighbors in need. Almost 16,500 pounds of food – or 16,500 meals for Philabundance and its member agencies – were collected during the Authority’s two-week “Stop Hunger at Your Station” food drive. Monetary gifts of over $9,200 received during the food drive provide an additional 18,460 meals for individuals and families served by Philabundance and its partner social service agencies. This year’s food drive helped support Philabundance’s programs, supplying meals for thousands of children in the Delaware Valley who miss free and reduced-cost breakfasts and lunches when the school year ends.
Since 2009, SEPTA customers and employees have donated almost 156,000 pounds of food. With monetary contributions of approximately $62,200, SEPTA customers and employees have given the equivalent of almost 280,000 meals over the course of the drive’s nine-year history.
“We cannot thank our passengers and employees enough for their continued support of the ‘Stop Hunger at Your Station’ food drive,” said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey Knueppel. “The donations Philabundance receives from our food drive will make a difference to thousands of Delaware Valley residents, especially children.”
During the food drive, held June 12-23, SEPTA collected donations of canned goods at 43 designated stations throughout the transit system. A specially wrapped “Stop Hunger at Your Station” SEPTA bus toured the region throughout the food drive, collecting items such as peanut butter, jelly, canned pasta and tuna.