SEPTA will kick off its fourth annual food drive for hungry residents in the region Monday, officials announced yesterday.
Employees and riders can drop off canned and boxed goods in marked barrels at 45 locations on the SEPTA system. The “Stop Hunger at Your Station” campaign will run through June 15. Last year, SEPTA collected almost 18 tons of food for Philabundance, which equaled 35,000 meals.
Officials said the drive is vital because many young people tend to miss meals in the summer with the absence of school lunch. Nearly a quarter of the people served by Philabundance are children.
“This is when childhood hunger is at its worst,” said Melanie Jumonville, chief operating officer of Philabundance. “Hunger doesn’t take a vacation.”
In the three years SEPTA has done the food drive, it has contributed more than 46 tons, officials said.
Participants are asked to donate the following items:
- Canned or shelf stabilized tuna
- Canned pasta
- Canned beef ravioli
- Creamy peanut butter (plastic containers only)
- Jelly (plastic containers only)
- Cereal
- Oatmeal
People can also donate online toward the campaign by visiting www.philabundance.org.
