The Prep donates 1500 pounds of food and over 1000 pairs of sock to Philadelphians in need

Outside of "Our Brothers Place," a men's shelter on Hamilton street.  Preppers donated 200 socks here.

Over the past week, the Prep donated over 1,000 pairs of socks and more than 1,500 pounds of food to people in need across Philadelphia.

Last Thursday, March 17, the Prep presented a "Welcome Basket" to a family that during a "Home Dedication Ceremony" for Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia.  Included in this basket were some food items as well as some Prep gear!

On Friday, March 18, the Hurtado Food Pantry teamed up with the "Homelessness Sleep-out" and delivered over 1,000 pairs of socks to people in need.  "Our Brother's Place" - an emergency shelter on Hamilton street with 149 beds, received approximately 200 pairs.  St. Francis Inn, a Franciscan Soup Kitchen on Kensington Avenue, which feeds between 300 and 600 people daily, received approximately 400 pairs of socks.  And Face to Face Germantown, which serves 2,500 people annually, received approximately 400 socks.  Students also engaged the 'visible' homeless community along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and handed out a number of pairs there.

On Monday, March 21st, St. Francis Inn collected 517 pounds of food from the Hurtado Pantry; and today we delivered 1008 pounds to the Mander Playground at 33rd and Diamond.

The Prep welcomed some new neighbors through Habitat for Humanity.

Preppers handing out socks.

Loading the van.

At St. Francis Inn.

On the Parkway.

Logan circle.

Students were treated to a Q&A on homelessness with Larry Russock, the Program Coordinator at St. John's Community Services.

Students help load a van with food for St. Francis Inn.

Posing in front of the Mander Playground, where 1,008 pounds of food were delivered today, March 23rd.

Setting out the food.

Mike Matkovic, '16, sorts food.

Special thanks must be given to the generous parents, students, faculty, staff, and administrators who supported the Hurtado Food Pantry with time, money, and in-kind donations.  We also wish to thank the various individuals who helped organize the pantry during its latest adventures - at the Prep this includes President Fr. John Swope, Principal Jason Zazyczny, Sam Deitch, Jonathan Jerome, Bill Conners, Bill 'Speedy' Morris, Bill Avington, Bryan Ghee, Bob Furth, Bob Reamer, and Debbie DiMarzio.  At Habitat for Humanity, special thanks are given to Shonda Brinson and Frank and Suellen Monaghan.   During the Sock Deliveries, we were greatly assisted by Larry Russock from St. John's Community Services, Hannah McGrath from the Franciscan Volunteer Ministry, Hilary Coulter from the Bethesda Project, Susan O'Hagan Marley (and son Dan '16) from Face to Face Germantown, and especially Alumni Service Corps Volunteer Brendan Kennedy.   During our recent food deliveries, Franciscan Volunteer Christopher Ellingwood, Sonia Nelson, and Prep graduate Alex Hughes-Taylor, '05, provided much help.  We once again relied on YouGiveGoods for many of our sock donations, and Michelle Seideneck helped us out again!  As can be seen in the pictures, many students provided the manpower necessary take these donations to fruition, and many more are not pictured - we would like to thank you all!