Closing April with Impact: Tackling Food Insecurity and Lending a Hand to Refugee Families

From addressing food insecurity to supporting new refugee families, there are so many ways to make a difference. This month, I had the opportunity to dive into both of these important causes, learning firsthand the power of community care.

Philadelphia's Fight Against Food Insecurity

Philadelphia is one of the largest cities in the U.S., yet it faces a serious issue: food insecurity. Nearly 20% of Philadelphia's population is food insecure, meaning they don’t always know where their next meal will come from. This can affect people's health, well-being, and ability to thrive in other areas of life. So, what can we do about it?

As highlighted by The Philadelphia Citizen, addressing food insecurity requires a multi-faceted approach. Here are a few strategies they’ve outlined:

1. Increase Access to Healthy Food: Initiatives like urban farms, food pantries, and community fridges are key. They bring fresh food directly to the neighborhoods that need it most.

2. Education and Advocacy: Getting involved with organizations that fight food insecurity, like the Hunger Coalition or Food Connect, helps spread the word about this issue and provides resources to those in need.

3. Support Policy Change: Advocating for policy changes at the local and national levels can help improve access to food for all. Whether through school lunch programs or food assistance programs, pushing for long-term solutions is essential.

Philadelphia is home to many organizations actively working to close the food access gap. If you haven’t yet, consider joining their efforts by donating food, volunteering your time, or even starting conversations with your peers about food justice.

Volunteering with HIAS: Supporting Refugee Families

This April, I also had the privilege of volunteering with HIAS Immigration & Citizenship, an organization that provides resources to immigrants and refugees arriving in the United States. My task? Building cleaning baskets for families arriving. Each basket was filled with essential supplies—things like detergent, soap, disinfectant wipes, and more.

These may sound like small items, but for families who have left everything behind to start a new life, having basic supplies makes a world of difference. Over the course of the month, I helped assemble and distribute eight cleaning baskets, each one going to a different family who had recently arrived in the U.S. Knowing that these baskets could ease their transition, even in a small way, was incredibly fulfilling.

It was a reminder that helping doesn’t have to involve grand gestures. Sometimes, it's as simple as offering a hand to those who need it most, whether it’s through something as straightforward as a cleaning basket or by supporting food equity initiatives.

Why It All Matters

April might be coming to a close, but the need for support in our communities is year-round. Food insecurity affects nearly 300,000 people in Philadelphia alone, while refugees arriving here often face new challenges with very little help. By taking action, whether it’s through volunteering with food programs or organizations like HIAS, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of people in need.

Here are some ways you can get involved:

• Support Food Justice: Volunteer or donate to a local food pantry, community fridge, or urban farm. Even spreading the word about food insecurity can help raise awareness.

• Help Refugees and Immigrants: Organizations like HIAS rely on volunteers to help with everything from assembling welcome baskets to providing language support.

• Advocate for Change: Start discussions about food policy or refugee support with your school, family, or local representatives. The more people who understand these issues, the closer we get to lasting change.