Since 1996, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Mitzvah Food Program (MFP) has worked to reduce food insecurity and provide social services for at-risk families in the Greater Philadelphia region. The Mitzvah Food Project’s hunger relief program currently serves individuals through four pantry sites located in Northeast Philadelphia, Bala Cynwyd, Bensalem and Elkins Park.
Since 1996, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Mitzvah Food Program (MFP) has worked to reduce food insecurity and provide social services for at-risk families in the Greater Philadelphia region. The Mitzvah Food Project’s hunger relief program currently serves individuals through four pantry sites located in Northeast Philadelphia, Bala Cynwyd, Bensalem and Elkins Park.
The Current Reality
"I would like to express my gratitude to the Mitzvah Food Program Northeast team for their help. Thank you so much for your tangible support, for your concern, for your responsiveness. The entire team treats us very kindly." - Nina Sergeeva, A Russian-Speaking MFP Client
More than 23,000+ Jewish families in our community live with food insecurity, according to the Jewish Federation’s 2019 Community Portrait survey. With rising prices of food and a growing number of clients, including Ukrainian refugees, your help is needed now more than ever.
Drop off non-perishable kosher food, toiletries and cleaning supplies at a pantry or purchase items through the Mitzvah Food Program’s Amazon Wish List
“When I deliver food packages, it brings me great joy to know that those in need will have enough to eat for the coming weeks.” - MFP volunteer Mitchell Benson, who also serves on the Jewish Federation’s endowment committee.
We believe that healthy food is a right – not a privilege. The Jewish Federation’s four pantries distribute nutritious food with Kosher options to all who are in need, regardless of race, income, gender, age or religion. Last year, we distributed 904,908 pounds of food, which includes fresh and frozen as well as nonperishable items, to 6,000+ individual clients in 2,500+ households.
In addition, MFP partners with Share, Sharing Excess, Drexel Food Lab, Philabundance, JRA, and more as a way to convene leading drivers of change together in the collective fight against hunger.
The Power of Choice
"Over the past decade and in our current economic state, the Mitzvah Food Program has evolved into a vital necessity for clients facing hunger and poverty. The MFP is a testament to a productive collaborative effort of its staff, volunteers and donors, both public and private, coming together to offer concrete and direct help to the local communities." - Yana Brill, Site Manager, Choice Food Program
Unlike many food relief agencies, MFP’s clients choose from fresh and frozen groceries as well as non-perishable goods. MFP is praised for its choice-based structure, which uses a point system that incentivizes clients to select more nutritious items when placing their orders.
In a holistic approach to hunger, MFP staff help clients apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, benefits, and sign up for other food insecurity programs, like JRA and KleinLife’s Meals on Wheels. Striving for an even greater impact, MFP also offers increased social services, including the employment of two Russian-speaking social workers at the Northeast Pantry to provide additional support to the predominantly Russian immigrant clientele.
Ensuring a Happy Thanksgiving
This past Thanksgiving, MFP provided 3,221 lbs of fresh protein to families in need in the Greater Philadelphia area through our four pantries. Thank you to Philabundance, Old York Road Temple-Beth Am and our generous donors for helping to create moments of community and connection this holiday season.
For the first time, our MFP’s Lower Bucks County food pantry was able to give out 72 Thanksgiving turkeys to local families in need. This was possible thanks to the generosity of the women who attended our Challah Demo & Exercise event on October 26. Some of these women donated their time this morning at MFPs Mainline pantry to distribute turkeys to families so that they can have a happy Thanksgiving! MFP’s next big holiday-themed food distribution will be for Passover.
Combating Hunger with Israel Partnership Region Students
Ten Israeli Ben Gurion University students from our partnership regions of Netivot and Sdot Negev were visiting Philadelphia when Israel was attacked by Hamas on October 7. They were here to learn about the Jewish Federation's work to combat food insecurity at our Mitzvah Food Program. After the attacks, the Jewish Federation was able to host the students for an extended stay, offering them emotional support resources and cultural activities, like meeting renowned Israeli Chef Michael Solomonov.
In addition to MFP, the Jewish Federation is committed to reducing food insecurity by supporting programs that provide free or low cost meals or food packages to adults and families in need. Among the programs that we support include: Jewish Relief Agency (JRA)’s Monthly Food Distribution program, KleinLife’s Home Delivered Meals program, Latet Israeli Humanitarian Aid's nutritional security for those food insecure Israelis and Holocaust survivors in need, Israel's national food bank Leket, the Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin’s The Army Marches on Its Stomach program, Federation Housing Inc.'s meal program, Kavod Shef in partnership with the Seed the Dream Foundation.
