(Photo: Bishop Shanahan High School)

For almost three decades, Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (NDS), has hosted its holiday food drive to counter hunger in the five-county area during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Last year, approximately 20,000 pounds of non-perishable food was collected through this effort.

“The Holiday Food Drive is a great way for schools to support their local communities during Advent and Christmas,” says Denise Hopkins, Administrator for the NDS Community Food Program. “We are grateful to all the schools who participate and help those in need!”

As a critical component of this hunger relief effort, NDS is partnering with Parish and Regional Elementary Schools and Archdiocesan High Schools throughout the Greater Philadelphia Area.

NDS is also once again sponsoring its “Alternative Christmas Cards” program. This initiative aims to provide an alternative to individuals and families who wish to send non-secular Christmas cards and raise funds for their neighbors in need.

The Christmas cards are sold in packs of 10 cards for $15.00 or 20 cards for $25.00. Each card features a note referencing the donation, saying, “This Christmas greeting represents a donation made in your name to help feed and empower the needy of our area.”

To purchase a pack of Christmas cards, please visit here.

“We are trying to do everything we can to raise funds through the selling of these cards to support our many food cupboards,” says Hopkins.

NDS’ Community Food Program supports a network of 50 food cupboards throughout the Greater Philadelphia region including five food cupboards operated by Catholic Social Services, five soup kitchens, and numerous community outreach programs.

(Photo: St. Frances de Sales School)

The holiday season is not the only time NDS partners with Archdiocesan schools to make a difference.

Each September, NDS kicks off its annual Peanut Butter and Jelly (PB&J) Drive to mark Hunger Action Month.

Hunger Action Month is sponsored nationally by Feeding America. It aims to raise awareness about hunger in our nation and issues a call to action to support the hungry in our local communities. According to Feeding America, 1,219,130 individuals throughout Pennsylvania face food insecurity or lack consistent access to foods that support an active and healthy lifestyle. 325,170 are children.

School communities were encouraged to collect as many jars as possible of PB&J for the NDS supported food cupboards. This year, over 25 schools participated in the initiative.

35,000 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. The staple is also a favorite at the cupboards, noted Hopkins.

“We could not help as many people as we do without our students, parents, principals, and all the wonderful staff at our many schools!”

In addition to yearly service projects, NDS also provides opportunities for students that can be completed anytime throughout the school year. The agency has ongoing “Kid Snack Bag” and “Outreach Bag” initiatives to support our neighbors in need.

Kid Snack Bags are provided to children who eat at soup kitchens supported by NDS. Students are asked to decorate paper bags according to the holiday closest to the time they are doing the project and fill their bag with the following items: 100% juice pack, granola bar, cheese crackers, a box of raisins, fruit cup, napkin, plastic spoon (if necessary), and a straw.

Students at St. Jude School in Chalfont prepare snack bags for NDS. (Photo: St. Jude School)

Outreach Bags are filled with similar items and benefit men and women experiencing homelessness. In addition to food items, students can add one of the following small sample sized toiletries: a small pack of tissues, small toothpaste and a toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, hand lotion, lip balm, deodorant, or soap.

To learn more about these initiatives, please visit here.

In 2022, NDS provided over 1.9 million meals through its privately supported Community Food Program. To learn more about NDS, check out their website here.