Every September, Hunger Action Month shines a light on the reality of food insecurity across the nation, and the powerful work being done to address it. Within Pennsylvania’s food and beverage industry, PFMA members continue to step forward with creativity, compassion, and collaboration. From large-scale donations to innovative food rescue systems, their efforts show what’s possible when business becomes a partner in solving hunger.
At Sharing Excess, what started as a grassroots effort to collect surplus food has grown into a professionalized service model connecting major food suppliers with hunger relief organizations. Working from the heart of the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, Sharing Excess now rescues and redistributes over 40 million pounds of fresh produce annually. The program has turned one of the nation’s largest produce markets into the single biggest source of fresh food donations in Philadelphia, saving vendors millions in hauling costs and earning millions more in state tax credits for their generosity. It’s a model of efficiency that shows how the right infrastructure can turn waste into nourishment and industry goals into tangible community impact.
DoorDash approaches the fight against hunger through innovation and advocacy. This Hunger Action Month, the company joined partners Hunger Free Pennsylvania and the York County Food Bank for a “Day of Action” on Capitol Hill. The focus: expanding access to home delivery for seniors and families who can’t easily reach food banks. Through Project DASH, DoorDash has already facilitated millions of free deliveries for hunger relief organizations nationwide. During September, the company also urged customers to support Meals on Wheels America, reinforcing the connection between technology, logistics, and human dignity. As DoorDash’s Daniel Riff, Head of Government and Nonprofit Operations, emphasized, reaching those who can’t leave home is one of the final frontiers in food access.
For Brown’s Super Stores, community engagement is a year-round mission. The company’s partnership with the Urban Affairs Coalition brings together volunteers to pack more than 2,000 holiday baskets filled with full dinners for families in need. Through its sponsorship of PHL24, a fundraising event with Legacy of Hope, Brown’s also helps deliver meals to cancer patients in coordination with the Philadelphia Police Department. The company continues to provide in-kind donations for hundreds of community events each year and supports a weekly pantry with the Philadelphia Masjid. Brown’s commitment underscores how neighborhood-based supermarkets play a direct and personal role in keeping local families fed.
Wegmans has long viewed hunger relief as part of its culture of care. This year, the company deepened its partnership with the Mama-Tee Community Fridge Project, donating fresh produce and pantry staples each month to help stock fifteen fridges across the Philadelphia area. Employees also volunteer quarterly to clean and restock them, creating a steady rhythm of support that keeps the program running smoothly. On September 6, Wegmans team members joined the Carousel House Farm for a hands-on harvest, contributing to a local farm share that provides thousands of pounds of fresh food to the community. And at the 9/11 Day of Service at Lincoln Financial Field, Wegmans volunteers joined more than 2,000 others to pack 700,000 meals for Philabundance. From farm to fridge, the company demonstrates how sustained community relationships can make hunger relief both personal and practical.
The Giant Company marked Hunger Action Month with a statewide push to eliminate hunger. Partnering with Feeding America, GIANT donated $435,000 to 25 food banks and pantries across its footprint. In Berks and Schuylkill counties, GIANT teamed up with Land O’Lakes, Inc., donating truckloads of macaroni and cheese alongside an additional $35,000 in funding for the Helping Harvest Food Bank. Land O’Lakes produced the food specifically for Feeding America through its “First Run” program, illustrating how manufacturing and retail can coordinate to meet real needs. Throughout September, GIANT customers also rounded up their purchases at checkout, contributing nearly $390,000 to local hunger relief efforts.
At ShopRite, the annual Partners in Caring initiative transforms stores into centers of action. Employees and customers come together to raise funds and awareness for local food banks through creative in-store displays, donation drives, and community events. The campaign culminates in the Cheerios Box Contest, a friendly competition that celebrates top-performing stores by featuring their teams on a commemorative cereal box. Beyond the fun and rivalry, the program fuels thousands of meals and unites shoppers, employees, and partners around a common goal: ending hunger in their communities.
Each of these efforts reflects the same shared principle: food businesses have the power to drive change far beyond their shelves. Hunger Action Month is a reminder that progress happens when logistics meet compassion, and when industry leaders use their reach to serve their neighbors.
PFMA is proud to represent members who make hunger relief part of their mission every day. Whether through food rescue, delivery innovation, local partnerships, or national advocacy, their actions show the strength of Pennsylvania’s food and beverage community. Together, they’re proving that ending hunger isn’t just a cause. It’s good business, and the right thing to do. ■
“PFMA members play a vital role in strengthening our statewide charitable food network during Hunger Action month and beyond. From coordinating food drives and donating grocery products, to raising awareness and funds in their stores, to volunteering alongside our food bank teams, retailers continue to show up for their neighbors in meaningful ways. Their leadership and partnership are indispensable in the movement to end hunger in Pennsylvania,”
Julie Bancroft
CEO, Feeding Pennsylvania