September is Hunger Action Month. This year’s PB&J collection takes place now through Wednesday, October 26.
Nutritional Development Services (NDS), an agency of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, is hosting its annual Peanut Butter and Jelly (PB&J) Drive to mark Hunger Action Month.
This initiative is in collaboration with Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools and Parish Religious Education Programs throughout the Philadelphia region. School communities are encouraged to collect as many jars of PB&J as possible for our neighbors in need.
Throughout the five-county metropolitan area, approximately 437,000 individuals face food insecurity or lack consistent access to foods that support an active and healthy lifestyle.
Last year, 43,000 pounds of PB&J were collected through this community-based effort. Peanut butter is a staple food item for NDS due to its long shelf life and nutritional value.
To enable broad participation, NDS is also hosting an online food drive. Those interested in helping men, women, and children facing hunger can purchase PB&J through YouGiveGoods at https://yougivegoods.com/ndscfp2022. Items will be shipped directly to NDS for distribution.
All goods donated now through Wednesday, October 26th will help stock the shelves of NDS’ network of food cupboards throughout the Greater Philadelphia region for the fall and winter months including five food cupboards operated by Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; five soup kitchens; and numerous community outreach programs.
In addition to its PB&J drive, NDS is continuing to sponsor its fresh produce giveaways in areas where accessing healthy and nourishing items can be difficult among other critical hunger relief efforts.
Hunger Action Month is sponsored nationally by Feeding America. It aims to raise awareness about hunger in our nation and issue a call to action to support the hungry in our local communities.
# # #
Editor’s Note: For nearly five decades, Nutritional Development Services (NDS) mission has been to serve children and those in need with healthy food. NDS accomplishes its mission in two distinct ways: by administering the federally-funded child nutrition programs and through the privately supported Community Food Program. For more information about NDS, an agency of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit http://nutritionaldevelopmentservices.org/. NDS is an equal opportunity service provider.
For information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit https://aopcatholicschools.org/.