The Spirit of Giving Back

Avalon Hinchman (11-2)


As Masterman students, it's easy to become caught up in the daily stresses of life and disregard the happenings of the community and city, including those less fortunate. While the holiday season continues in full swing, consider taking the time to give back to those around you. Here are a few organizations requesting involvement in volunteer work and donations:

  • The Share Food Program is a non-profit organization that coordinates with several other regional community organizations to provide food, offer education opportunities, and advocate for those in need. Opportunities include assembling cardboard boxes (which hold food donations), packing produce and canned goods, bagging food items, preparing order forms, loading and unloading truck shipments, and more. Sign up at sharefoodprogram.org!

  • The Grace Cafe is a project by the Arch Street United Methodist Church that provides restaurant-style free meals to those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity on a weekly basis each Sunday evening from September to June. Volunteers are expected to arrive at 4:45 to set up before serving dinner and mingling with guests; the evening ends around 8:00 after clean up. For more information, you can visit https://archstreetumc.org/what-we-do/ministry/grace-cafe/.

  • Philabundance is a hunger relief organization, the largest in the Delaware Valley, which distributes food to those in need on a weekly basis including children, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. Volunteers can help pack and sort donated food in preparation for distribution. The organization accepts both monetary and food donations; for more information concerning food donation and to sign up to volunteer visit the Philabundance website at philabundance.org

  • Those who are seeking a greater commitment might consider applying to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, located in Philadelphia. Most programs require a minimum of four hours a service a week over a period of time that depends on the position; however, evening and weekend shifts are available and applicants only have to be fifteen to apply. For more information concerning the extensive list of possible volunteer positions, which include direct or indirect contact with patients depending on preference, as well as the application form and requirements visit: https://www.stchristophershospital.com/SitePages/Contact-Us/Volunteer-Services.aspx.

  • Feast of Justice is a food program located in Philadelphia that collects food donations and offers the products for free in a grocery style market to those in need. You might recognize the organization, oftentimes SGA works in tandem to collect donations of canned goods from the students at Masterman, and Mr. Neale’s wife is heavily involved in the program. Feast of Justice offers flexible volunteer hours in several locations, just visit the site at hungercoalition.org/volunteer and click the link “find a pantry” to input your preferred location and day.