So far, $415,000 has already been donated to the fund, which aims to address critical needs across the region. The campaign now invites viewers and residents to contribute and help expand the impact.
Over the next several weeks, Action News at 4 will spotlight each of the selected organizations, beginning with the Share Food Program - a hunger relief nonprofit serving approximately 500,000 people each month.
George Matysik, a representative of the Share Food Program, said the organization has lost about $8.5 million in food and funding from the federal government over the past nine months.
"We're seeing an increase in need to our organization," Matysik said. "And now on top of that, we're seeing a reduction in SNAP benefits and some of the other federal programs that the folks that we serve rely on."
The nonprofit, which began as a food co-op, now stocks kitchens in nearly 800 schools and food pantries throughout the city and suburbs, including Men Who Care of Germantown Incorporated.
"We started off as an emergency food pantry," said Keith Pate, a representative of the Germantown group.
When the pandemic hit, the need grew.
"I went to Share and Iust stood by the gate and waited for someone to come up," he said. "The manager came over and we talked. He said, well, how would you like to be a food pantry? And I said, sure, not knowing what it was going to entail."
With support from Share, the Germantown pantry now serves about 600 residents a month - a number that continues to grow.
"But with the cuts and the holding up of the funds, it's just hard," Pate said.
As part of the Philly Gives campaign, the Share Food Program received a $50,000 grant to help deliver meals to those in need. Matysik emphasized the importance of community support, especially as the holidays approach.
"There's never been more of a need for us to have community support to help be able to buy the food, bring the food in that we can serve our neighbors with," he said.
For more information, visit PhillyGives.org.