Partnering with Philabundance and Food Moxie, Weavers Way collected approximately 1,700 pounds of food in a Thanksgiving week drive that also netted $2,744 in cash contributions.

Food collected in the drive Nov. 18-27 was distributed locally to Church of the Annunciation (on Lincoln Drive) and the Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry. Over 200 monetary donations went to Philabundance to help its robust regional food-distribution efforts.

Critical to the collection efforts were the dozens of Co-op members who weathered the cold temperatures during the busy Thanksgiving shopping days. Philabundance Executive Director Glenn Bergman even donned the can costume during his volunteer shift!

Food Moxie volunteers, coordinated by Rachel Reynolds, led the way with several volunteers each day. Special thanks also to the Weavers Way staff who volunteered their time during an extremely busy work week — Kentu Malik, Greg Davis, Stephanie Johnson, Jeannine Kienzle, Frank Joseph, Neal Fordham, Bill Quern, Purchasing Manager Norman Weiss and Mt. Airy store manager Rick Spalek all took shifts. In addition, the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Chestnut Hill deployed junior high and senior high youth, who collected approximately 400 pounds of food in one day. 

As an inaugural food drive, we were very happy with the support of members, staff, Food Moxie and the community in this effort to combat hunger. Going forward, we hope to incorporate perishable food items — such as meat and fish, dairy and produce — and to target the 2017 summer season, when school-provided lunches are not available to Philadelphia children. Please attend a Food Justice Committee meeting (held on the first Wednesday of the month in the Community Room, 555 Carpenter Lane, adjacent to the Mt. Airy store) if you are interested in helping to fight hunger and improve food access for our neighbors.