PRESS: West Philadelphia YMCA and Feed the People Philly To Host Free Community Food Giveaways

PHILADELPHIA, PA – November 10, 2026 – The West Philadelphia YMCA is partnering with Feed the People Philly, Inc. to host a free Community Food Giveaway on Saturday, November 14, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Neighbors can come by to pick up free fresh produce, non-perishables, bread and other items at the West Philadelphia YMCA at 5120 Chestnut Street.

The giveaway is open to the community, and registration is not required.

The Y and Feed the People Philly will host additional giveaways on Saturday, March 20; Saturday, May 15; Saturday, June 19; and Saturday, July 17, 2027.

Feed the People Philly is a volunteer-led nonprofit that hosts free community food giveaways in West Philadelphia.

THE BIG PICTURE

• Nearly one in three Philadelphia children faces food insecurity. Philadelphia County’s food insecurity rate was 17.6% in 2023, the second-highest in Pennsylvania. Among children in the county, the rate was 30.5%, compared with 18.1% statewide, according to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap estimates. Central Pennsylvania Food Bank / Feeding America
• Hunger is a national challenge. 47 million people in the United States, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023. Feeding America
• Fresh food is hard to come by. Just 1 in 10 U.S. adults meet federal recommendations for fruit or vegetables, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which names high cost and limited availability and access among the barriers. Giveaways like this one put fresh produce directly into families’ hands. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Philadelphia is making real progress. The city’s poverty rate fell below 20% in 2024 for the first time since 1979, though more than 300,000 residents still live on $33,000 or less for a family of four. The Pew Charitable Trusts

“Every family deserves fresh, healthy food on the table. Partnering with Feed the People Philly lets us bring groceries right to our front door, with no registration and no barriers, for anyone in West Philadelphia who needs them,” said Doug Johnson, Executive Director of the West Philadelphia YMCA.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY

WHAT: Free Community Food Giveaway hosted by the West Philadelphia YMCA and Feed the People Philly, Inc., offering fresh produce, non-perishables, bread and other items to members and non-members of all ages

WHEN: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to noon.

WHERE: West Philadelphia YMCA - 5120 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139 (front of the building)

WHO:

• Doug Johnson, Executive Director of the West Philadelphia YMCA
• Feed the People Philly, Inc. volunteers
• West Philadelphia YMCA staff
• Neighbors and families from West Philadelphia