Philadelphia’s own The Fresh Grocer of Progress Plaza, located on Broad Street, has once again demonstrated its commitment to the local community through the successful completion of its “Field Goals for Hunger” program. This initiative, a partnership with Temple University’s football team, culminated in a generous food donation to Philabundance, the Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization, showcasing the store’s dedication to fighting food insecurity in Philadelphia.
For every field goal achieved by the Temple Owls during the 2020 football season, The Fresh Grocer at its Broad Street location pledged to donate three cases of essential non-perishable food items. The Owls’ impressive performance, featuring five field goals from freshman Rory Bell and four from redshirt junior Will Mobley, resulted in a donation of 27 cases. These cases were filled with priority goods, carefully selected to address the immediate needs of those facing hunger, including canned proteins, fruits, vegetables, pasta, rice, and breakfast cereals.
The donation was carefully coordinated as a socially distanced drop-off at Philabundance’s Berks Street Warehouse in North Philadelphia. This timely contribution is set to provide crucial support to the local community, especially during challenging times where food insecurity has become a growing concern for many.
Loree D. Jones, CEO of Philabundance, highlighted the critical impact of this program, stating, “Since COVID hit our area negatively impacting the food supply chain, it has become increasingly difficult to provide clients with the shelf stable products they depend on. Thanks to the Field Goals for Hunger program, our neighbors in need will have access to the staple food items they need during these trying times.”
The Fresh Grocer Broad Street, a cornerstone of the Progress Plaza community, has been a steadfast supporter of Temple Athletics and the “Field Goals for Hunger” program since 2018. Their commitment extends to basketball season as well, with the “Three’s for Hunger” program running since 2009.
Tom Hepp, the store director of The Fresh Grocer of Progress Plaza, emphasized the importance of community engagement, “We are so happy that this partnership with Temple Athletics has continued throughout the years and through the pandemic. It is so important to give back, especially during challenging times like these. We are also very thankful to Philabundance for their important work and encourage others to support their mission.”
As part of the Burns’ Family Neighborhood Markets, The Fresh Grocer on Broad Street and its sister stores are further extending their support during January. All Burns’ supermarkets are hosting in-store food drives for Philabundance, offering customers the chance to purchase pre-filled hunger relief bags and donate them at checkout. Participating locations include:
- The Fresh Grocer of Progress Plaza, 1501 N. Broad St, Philadelphia, PA (Your Fresh Grocer Broad Street location)
- The Fresh Grocer of LaSalle, 5301 Chew Ave, Philadelphia, PA
- The Fresh Grocer of Grays Ferry, 3021 Grays Ferry Ave, Philadelphia, PA
- The Fresh Grocer of 56th & Chestnut, 5601 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA
- The Fresh Grocer of Upper Darby, 421 S 69th St, Upper Darby, PA
- ShopRite of Drexeline, 5000 State Rd, Drexel Hill, PA
- ShopRite of Brookhaven, 5075 Edgmont Ave, Brookhaven, PA
Burns’ Family Neighborhood Markets, operating as part of Wakefern Food Corp., are deeply rooted in the Greater Philadelphia area. They prioritize understanding and serving the unique needs of their diverse communities, focusing on providing quality perishables and promoting health and wellness throughout the neighborhoods they serve. The Fresh Grocer Broad Street exemplifies this commitment through ongoing initiatives like the Field Goals for Hunger program, making a tangible difference in the fight against local hunger.
