This past week, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were cut due to the government shutdown. The shutdown caused a temporary halt to many government-paid jobs and benefits, and the United States Department of Agriculture interpreted this to include SNAP, providing guidance for states to issue 65 percent of the maximum benefits for November 2025. Food insecurity is a significant issue in Philadelphia and across the country. Almost one-third of college and university students across the US may be food-insecure, meaning they lack regular, consistent access to food. Without SNAP, more students need a stable, reliable source of food. Luckily, in Philadelphia, there are many food pantries and banks that are easy to access.
For starters, Drexel has had a food pantry, called Mario’s Market, since before the COVID-19 pandemic, located on the second floor of the Rush Building. Drexel purchases and delivers the food, and a team of volunteers helps put items on shelves and measure inventory. With support from university budgets and some early fundraising, the inventory at Mario’s Market has grown from non-perishable canned and boxed goods to include refrigerated food. They are also exploring opportunities for collaboration with other food banks and providers, such as grocery stores and nonprofit organizations.
“We want to gain more experience, better articulate our message, and expand services. We hope to do more to create awareness around healthy food choices,” says Maurice Cottman, director of the Student Center for Diversity and Inclusion. An estimated 70-100 people visit the pantry each week, and there is always enough food for visitors to access about a week’s worth of food in just one visit.
Outside of Drexel, Philabundance was founded in 1984 by an idealist named Pamela Rainey Lawler, who saw perfectly good food going to waste and people going hungry at the same time. It started as a food rescue organization operating out of a car, and is now a nonprofit food bank whose mission is to relieve hunger for now and end hunger for good. They also partner with state and nationwide organizations to increase collaboration, expand reach, advocate for new policies, and explore new initiatives. Philabundance works with more than 350 community partners, including shelters, nonprofits, emergency kitchens, senior centers, and schools (such as Mario’s Market at Drexel!) Their website now features a map showing the locations of every community partner in the area, so anyone can find food conveniently.
Another handy digital approach is Lemontree, a platform that uses data and technology to map food bank locations across the country. They use technology to strengthen existing networks of food assistance, helping users find a local food pantry or soup kitchen, apply for SNAP benefits, and more. By just texting them (between 10 am and 6 pm), one can find free food nearby. It is free and confidential.
Food is a fundamental human right, and every person deserves a reliable source of it. While food banks and networks were a temporary solution amid the threat of SNAP cuts, they remain an excellent way for anyone who is struggling to continue having a healthy meal.