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Last year, in the United States looked to food banks and food pantries for support, according to a 2023 report from Feeding America. The end of COVID-era government assistance programs and the rising cost of groceries due to inflation have many Americans facing food insecurity.

According to a 2023 Department of Agriculture report, 12.8% of households around the country—about 17 million—were . That's up from the 10.2% of households who had difficulty providing food for everyone in their home in 2021, and also up from the 10.5% who said the same in 2020. It's the highest share of food-insecure households in the U.S. since 2014.

The rise of food insecurity and the economic situation in the U.S. means that food banks are struggling to keep up with the demand. "Local food banks, pantries, and community meal programs have become an essential component of many households' food budgets, especially as we continue to face increased food prices and the end of pandemic-era benefits," Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, accompanying the nonprofit's aforementioned report. In an earlier 2023 survey from Feeding America, 65% of responding food banks reported an .

It can be difficult to know where to go if you want to help, as many do during the holiday season in particular. To help guide you, compiled a list of food bank volunteer opportunities near Philadelphia using data from . Read on to see what you can do for those grappling with food insecurity in your community, from distributing lunches to seniors to serving meals at soup kitchens.

Regional Director-Philadelphia
- Organization: CitiIMPACT
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Support individuals experiencing homelessness!
- Organization: Bethesda Project
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Home Cook Heroes Program
- Organization: Gift of Life Howie's House
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IVC: Seeking Philadelphia/S.Jersey Adults
- Organization: Ignatian Volunteer Corps
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Food Distribution Assistant
- Organization: Philly Peace In Progress
- Dates: Oct 9 to Dec 31
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Drivers Needed - Deliver Food to Seniors in South Philly!
- Organization: SEAMAAC
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Food Rescue Volunteer Driver
- Organization: SHARE Food Program
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Grant writer/fundraiser
- Organization: FEAST FOR FRIENDS
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Guest Resource Liaison - Feast of Justice
- Organization: Hunger Free America
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Help a Neighbor in the Glenolden, PA area with a Homemade Meal
- Organization: Lasagna Love
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Rescued Produce Sorting at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market
- Organization: Sharing Excess
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FAWN Food Pantries
- Organization: Turning Points for Children
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Deliver Homebound Meals to Seniors!
- Organization: Senior Community Services
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"Choice Market" Food Pantry at Feast of Justice!
- Organization: FEAST OF JUSTICE
- Dates: Dec 1 to Jan 31
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Toy Distribution ONLY
- Organization: Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Association for Nonviolence, Inc.
- Date: Dec 21
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Regional Director
- Organization: The Borgen Project
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Food Pantry Volunteers
- Organization: RSVP
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Alleviate a Family's Hunger - Pack Grocery Bags in Elkins Park
- Organization: Mitzvah Food Program, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
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Help Seniors - Cafe Server
- Organization: Surrey Services
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Kitchen Assistant
- Organization: CRANALEITH SPIRITUAL CENTER
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PR/ Marketing Intern and/or Volunteer
- Organization: Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Philadelphia
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This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 101 metros.