Different Quaker meetings, organizations, and affiliates in our region are gathering food pantry items this season. During Fall Continuing Sessions, Friends attending are invited to bring non-perishable food to Arch Street Meeting House in support of the Friends Pantry.
If your meeting is collecting food or donations for a local pantry, please let PYM staff know so we can share your meeting’s work with the wider community. Friends can post this information on PYM Connect or email communications@pym.org.
Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia and Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust
The Friends Pantry at Arch Street Meeting House is supported through the shared care of the Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia and the Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust. As mentioned earlier, Friends attending Fall Continuing Sessions are invited to bring non-perishable food items to contribute through the online wishlist. The pantry continues to meet the needs of neighbors in Old City through donations gathered year-round. More information can be found at archstreetfriends.org/friends-pantry or by following @friendspantryatasmh on Instagram.
Ujima Friends Peace Center and Unity Friends Meeting, Communities of Frankford and North Philadelphia
Ujima Friends Peace Center is now under the care of Unity Monthly Meeting and continues its ministry in the Frankford and North Philadelphia communities through outreach and community work. Meeting members and other volunteers distribute a variety food at the meetinghouse on the first and third Saturdays of each month. The food includes fresh produce and meats purchased in bulk and packaged at the Peace Center to save costs. More information can be found at www.ujimafriends.org/.
Bucks Quarterly Meeting: Bucks Food for Friends, Fallsington, PA
Bucks Quarterly Meeting’s long-running Bucks Food for Friends program provides meals and supplies to those in need throughout the county. Meals are held at 6:00 pm on the third Monday of every month at Fallsington Quaker Meetinghouse, 9300 New Falls Road, Fallsington, PA. More information can be found at www.quakersbucks.org/bucks-food-for-friends or contact c.richardson@cbhearthside.com.
Wrightstown Friends Meeting, Newtown, PA
Along with other faith-based organization, Wrightstown Friends, volunteer with the The Wrightstown Food Cupboard – Penns Park United Methodist Church and then help to distribute it to families in need. More information at www.wrightstownfriendsmeeting.org/ or the food pantry the affiliate with newtownumc.com/serve/wrightstown-food-cupboard/.
Third Haven Friends Meeting, Easton, MD
Friends at Third Haven Meeting support the Neighborhood Service Center through weekly donations of non-perishable food. Contributions are placed in the bin outside the meetinghouse each First Day and delivered on Tuesdays to help feed families in Easton. Learn more at www.thirdhaven.org.
Concord Monthly Meeting, Concordville, PA
Concord Monthly Meeting are having a food drive for at least the month of November, possibly longer. They have 24/7 drop off at a clearly marked shed outside the meetinghouse. 827 Concord Rd., Concordville, PA. Learn more on the meetings Instagram @concordfriendsmeeting.
Green Street Friends School, Philadelphia, PA
Green Street Friends School hosts a community fridge at 20 W Armat Street; it includes a working refrigerator, freezer, and dry pantry. The fridge is open at all hours and is fully self-serve. You can learn more about the fridge at GSFS and the other fridge in the neighborhood, located at 19 E High Street, at www.germantowncommunityfridge.com.
Mercer Street Friends, Trenton, NJ
Across the yearly meeting, Friends are connected with Mercer Street Friends, a Quaker-founded organization serving the Trenton community through hunger relief, education, and social programs. Many members of PYM are involved with Mercer Street Friends in a variety of ways. More information is at mercerstreetfriends.org.
National Council of Churches, Multiple Location
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is affiliated with the National Council of Churches (NCC), which brings together faith communities to serve those most affected by hardship. The NCC Health Task Force recently identified a public resource for those impacted by the federal government shutdown: worklifebalance.tools/government-shutdown-2025.
If you are seeking access to food distribution locations for yourself or others, and the opportunities listed are not applicable to your needs, please reach out to the food distributors above. They may have additional connections or local information. You are also welcome to contact info@pym.org if support from PYM staff would be helpful.
