Students from St. Joe’s Prep raised over $10,500 to purchase essential items supporting local outdoor Summer Meal programs administered by Nutritional Development Services
St. Joseph’s Preparatory School (the Prep) will present a substantial donation to Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (NDS) for its annual Summer Meals Program. The items include tables, chairs, coolers, and tents as well as other items that enrich the Summer Meal programs serving children in need. The drive was initiated by St. Joe’s Prep students and conducted via the fundraising website, YouGiveGoods.com.
Friday, May 20, 2016
2:45 p.m.
Kelly Fieldhouse
St. Joseph’s Preparatory School
1733 West Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19130
NDS supplies food to summer meal sites but there is often a need for basic supplies that support the efforts of the volunteers who run outdoor meal sites and for arts and crafts and play equipment that enriches the experience for the children served.
Athletic teams and extracurricular groups from the Prep competed against one another to raise the most donations. The winner, the Rugby Team, will be presented with the first Hurtado Cup, which is connected to the school’s Hurtado Food Pantry.
The pantry supports local community organizations combating hunger. It is named after Saint Alberto Hurtado, a Jesuit priest from Chile who was a prominent leader in the fight against poverty and hunger in the early 20th century.
Key Visuals:
- Rugby team and coaches presented first Hurtado Cup
- Presentation of Donations to NDS
Key Participants:
- Rev. John W. Swope, S.J., President, St. Joseph’s Prep
- Mr. Jason Zazyczny, Principal, St. Joseph’s Prep
- Mr. Leo Vaccaro, Moderator, Hurtado Food Pantry, St. Joseph’s Prep
- Mr. Sam Deitch, Director of Mission and Ministry, St. Joseph’s Prep
- Student Volunteers
- Rugby Team athletes and Coaching staff
- Lorraine M. Knight, Executive Director of Nutritional Development Services
- Anne H. Ayella, Director for Community Relations, NDS
- Erinn Hill, Director for School-based and Summer Meal Programs, NDS
- Qia Richardson, Assistant Administrator, School-based and Summer Meal Programs, NDS
In 2015, NDS’ Summer Meal Program worked with over 450 sites and served 177,656 breakfasts, 462,218 lunches, 234,667 snacks and 2,479 suppers. The Summer Meals Program is federally funded, operated nationally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
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Editor’s Note: To sign up for the Summer Meals Program or for more information on Nutritional Development Services, please call 215-895-3470 and select option 1 or visit www.nutritionaldevelopmentservices.org.
For more information on the Hurtado Food Pantry at St. Joseph’s Prep, please contact Bill Avington, Director of Communications, at 215-287-9013.
Contact:Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747 (office)